Animal Species:Thetis Fish, Neosebastes thetidis (Waite, 1899)
The Thetis Fishis yellowish, usually with five large poorly-defined blackish blotches. Pigmentation pattern on the caudal fin changes with growth. The species is endemic to southern New South Wales to southern Western Australia, including Tasmania.
Standard Common Name
Coral Perch, Ocean Perch, Rough Gurnard Perch
The Thetis Fish has a relatively short snout and deep body. The body is yellowish, usually with five large poorly-defined blackish blotches. Pigmentation pattern on the caudal fin changes with growth. The caudal fins of young individuals have two narrow vertical black bands distally. Older fish have a single broad vertical band on the fin. The suborbital scales of this species extend onto the lower margin of the eye membrane. This character is not found in any other species of Neosebastes.
The species was described by Australian Museum Fish Curator, Edgar Ravenswood Waite in 1899.
The species grows to 32 cm.
The Thetis Fish is relatively common. It has the largest distributional range of any Neosebastes species. The species is endemic to southern New South Wales to southern Western Australia, including Tasmania.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
The Thetis Fish is usually found at depths of 80 m - 280 m.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Motomura, H. 2004. Revision of the scorpionfish genus Neosebastes (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 37: 1-76, pl. 1-2.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology