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Pearly perchlet (Chelidoperca margaritifera) — Serranidae

Pearly perchlet

Chelidoperca margaritifera
Family: Serranidae

The Pearly perchlet (Chelidoperca margaritifera) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–118.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Pearly perchlet is a perchlet (Serranidae) from rocky and coral-reef water around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a stocky, often reddish to mottled body with large eyes and broad pectoral fins on which it rests on the bottom. As a bottom-oriented ambush predator it shelters in crevices and under overhangs and snaps at small crustaceans and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pearly perchlet?

The Pearly perchlet has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Pearly perchlet live?

The Pearly perchlet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Pearly perchlet get?

The Pearly perchlet grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Pearly perchlet dangerous to humans?

No, the Pearly perchlet is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Parel-dwergzaagbaars sourced
English name
Pearly perchlet sourced
Scientific name
Chelidoperca margaritifera
Family
Serranidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.1 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
118.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chelidoperca

More from the family Serranidae

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