Home · Serranidae · Eastern orange perch
Eastern orange perch (Lepidoperca pulchella) — Serranidae

Eastern orange perch

Lepidoperca pulchella
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Eastern orange perch (Lepidoperca pulchella) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
50.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The eastern orange perch is a small bass of the family Serranidae from the temperate waters around south-eastern Australia. The species grows to about 28 cm and has a stocky, orange to pink body. It lives on the continental shelf near rocky reefs, usually at some depth. As a predator it feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and other bottom animals. Like many sea basses it is probably a protogynous hermaphrodite, starting as a female. The species is sometimes landed as bycatch. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eastern orange perch?

The Eastern orange perch has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Eastern orange perch live?

The Eastern orange perch lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Eastern orange perch get?

The Eastern orange perch grows to a maximum of about 28 cm.

Is the Eastern orange perch dangerous to humans?

No, the Eastern orange perch is harmless to humans.

Is the Eastern orange perch edible?

The Eastern orange perch is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sierlijke oranjebaars sourced
English name
Eastern orange perch verified
Scientific name
Lepidoperca pulchella
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Lovely perch; Orange perch; Reefies; Reef perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
50.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Lepidoperca

More from the family Serranidae

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