Banded Sweep, Scorpis georgiana Valenciennes 1832
Other Names: Deepsea Sweep
A Banded Sweep, Scorpis georgiana, at the wreck of the HMAS Swan, Geographe Bay, Western Australia, April 2006. Source: Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org. License: CC BY Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A greyish to greyish-brown sweep with two broad dark bands on the body, the second band extending onto the high part of the dorsal and anal fins, a broad dark margin on the gill cover, and a dark caudal fin with white upper and lower margins.
Video of Banded Sweep at Haycock Point, South Australia.
Video of Banded Sweep at Haycock Point, South Australia.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2024, Scorpis georgiana in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 May 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2447
Banded Sweep, Scorpis georgiana Valenciennes 1832
More Info
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Distribution |
Kangaroo Island, South Australia, to Kalbarri, Western Australia. Inhabits coastal reefs, often sheltering in caves and under ledges. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin X,23-24; Anal fin III,25-26; Pectoral fin 17-18; Pelvic fin I,5; Caudal fin 17; Lateral-line scales approx. 90. Body very deep (approx 60% SL), strongly compressed; caudal peduncle shallow. Head of moderate size (approx. 30-34% SL), dorsal profile broadly rounded; snout short; eyes moderately large (approx. 34% HL); mouth moderately large, oblique; jaw teeth small, strong, in broad bands, outer row enlarged and recurved; preopercular margins serrate; edges of opercles and preorbital bones smooth. Scales tiny, ctenoid, covering body, most of head, and soft part of dorsal and anal fin; lateral line gently curved. Dorsal fin continuous, anterior spines short, only posterior-most spines noticeably longer, first few soft rays distinctly longer than preceding spines, following rays much shorter making outer edge of fin deeply concave; base of soft portion of dorsal fin much longer than that of spinous portion; anal fin similar to and opposite soft part of dorsal fin, spines short; caudal fin large, forked. Pectoral fin small; uppermost rays longest. Pelvic fins very small, inserted below and behind pectoral-fin base. |
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Fisheries |
Although the species is taken on hook and line, it is not highly esteemed as a table fish. |
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Etymology |
The species is named for the type locality: Port King George, Western Australia. |
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Species Citation |
Scorpis georgianus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1832, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons 8: 503, pl. 245. Type locality: Port King George, Western Australia (Albany Port, King George Sound). |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2024 |
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Resources |
Banded Sweep, Scorpis georgiana Valenciennes 1832
References
Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp.
Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island, pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds) The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth, Western Australia : Aqua Research and Monitoring Company.
Hutchins, J.B. 1994. A survey of the nearshore reef fish fauna of Western Australia's west and south coasts — The Leeuwin Province. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 46: 1-66 figs 1-6
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270.
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs.
Knudsen, S.W. & Clements, K.D. 2013. Revision of the family Kyphosidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). Zootaxa 3751(1): 1-101. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3751.1.1
Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986. Trawl fish from temperate waters of Australia. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research, Tasmania. 492 pp.
Scott, T.D., Glover, C.J.M. & Southcott, R.V. 1974. The Marine and Freshwater Fishes of South Australia. Adelaide : Government Printer 392 pp. figs.
Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1832. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 8 509 pp. pls 209-245. See ref at BHL
