Genus Callanthias


Summary:

A small genus with 6–8 species inhabiting deep reefs, rocky walls, pinnacles and seamounts, each endemic to temperate parts of world’s oceans. Two species are found off Australia.

Body moderately elongate; head short, rounded, dorsal profile curved; eye large, close to tip of snout; mouth oblique, reaching to below centre of eye; jaws with single outer row of conical teeth, and inner row or band of conical to villiform teeth, several forward directed canines anteriorly; palatine with or without fine teeth; preopercular margin smooth; opercle with 2 short flat spines dorsally; scales large, peripheral ctenoid with alternate primary and secondary cteni; scales not on dorsal- and anal-fin bases; dorsal fin without notch, soft rays longer than spines; anal fin similar to and opposite soft part of dorsal fin; caudal fin forked, outer rays in males filamentous. Adults appear to change sex from females to males, with associated changes in size, fin shape, and colouration.

Callanthias is from the Greek kallos (beauty) and anthos (flower) (anthias = a sea fish).

Author: Martin F. Gomon & Dianne J. Bray

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Cite this page as:
Martin F. Gomon & Dianne J. Bray, Callanthias in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/genus/248

References


Anderson, W.D., Jr., G.D. Johnson & C.C. Baldwin. 2015. Review of the splendid perches, Callanthias Lowe, 1839. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 105(3): i-xxii, 1-126, Pls. 1-8.

Roberts, C.D. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Polyprionidae, Serranidae and Callanthiidae. pp. 534-549 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.