PINGUIPEDIDAE


Parapercis maculata, 8.6 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Parapercis maculata
(Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Harlequin Sandperch

D V, 21-22 (usually 21); A I, 18-19 (usually 18); P1 16-17; LLp 57-64.

Body cylindrical. Four pairs of canine teeth on lower jaw anteriorly. Palatine teeth absent. Fourth dorsal spine longest. Membrane from spinous dorsal connected near base of 1st soft ray. Color: head and body light brown red to grey-brown dorsally, shading to whitish ventrally, with 6 square light to dark brownish red blotches on ventral half of body; head with blue lines; lower third to fourth of caudal fin light to dark brownish red. Size: attaining to 20 cm. Distribution: widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Andaman Sea, India, and Zanzibar. Remarks: Parapercis pulchella (Temminck and Schlegel) is regarded being a junior synonym of this species (see e.g., Randal, 1995).