Caesioperca lepidoptera (Forster, 1801)
Butterfly perch
Butterfly perch,  Oia
Caesioperca lepidoptera
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 140 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific: southern Australia and New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Often confused with Caesioperca rasor.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  A schooling species found over rocky reefs (Ref. 9563). Forms large aggregates in deeper water where it feeds mostly in the lower part of the water column. Usually occurs in areas which are exposed to continual strong tidal water movement (Ref. 26966).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Ranges from the Three Kings Islands to Snares Islands (Ref. 45524). Recorded from bottom trawls off the east coast of South Island (Ref. 58461). Type locality: New Zealand seas (Ref. 26282). Voucher specimen held at the NMNZ. Also Ref. 45493.


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 Not for publication.