General Description

Oval body, rather short head with small mouth, and long-based dorsal fin without a distinct notch. Adult males are bluish with a black bar on the side. Females are pinkish with a blue line below the eye. Small juveniles are pink to pinkish-orange with a dark mauve head. Usually 15 cm long head to tail tip (up to 25 cm).

Biology

Barber Perch form large schools on sheltered coastal reefs, feeding on plankton above rocky reefs, outcrops and drop offs at depths of 7-100 m. They are usually found at shallower depths and in more sheltered habitats than the related Butterfly Perch.

Distribution

Southern Australia.

Habitat

Rocky reefs, outcrops or dropoffs in shallow coastal waters.

More Information