Parapercis schauinslandii (Steindachner, 1900)
Redspotted sandperch
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Pinguipedidae (Sandperches)
Max. size:  18 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 9 - 170 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Pitcairn (excluding Easter Island), north to Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout Oceania. Not recorded from the Arabian Peninsula or the southern coast of Asia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-22; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 17-18. Indian Ocean form shows lined versus barred pattern (Ref. 48636). Spinous portion of dorsal fin black at base, deep red distally. A longitudinal row of black spots 8 or 9 subquadrangular red to dark brown spots along back alternating with similar but more vertically elongate red spots on lower side. Two narrow bright red bars at pectoral-fin base (Ref 42740).
Biology:  Benthic (Ref. 58302). Usually on open sand and rubble substrates near reefs (Ref. 48636, 58302). Adults occur on deep seaward and coastal slopes and deep sand flats (Ref. 48636) at depths to 170 m and rises up to about 15 m to feed (Ref. 90102). Adults have lyre-tail and may swim high above the substrate to feed on zooplankton, usually amongst other fishes such as basslets (Ref. 48636). Minimum depth of 9 m reported from Ref. 30874.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 April 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.