Name: Magpie perch
Scientific Name: Cheilodactylus nigripes Richardson, 1850
Family: Cheilodactylidae
Group: Bony fish
Class: Fish
Size: 26-50 cm.
These fish, though having a very characteristic appearance, can change colours in a matter of seconds, turning its first black stripe to white and its centre stripe to grey! The adults are seen in small schools scattered by the deep coastal reefs. The young ones live alone in shallow bays, protected by rocks and algae. During the night, they hide in holes. To feed themselves, they insert great quantities of sand in their mouths that eventually come out through their gills. This filtering process is very effective, allowing them to keep the small benthic invertebrates they feed on.
Photo by:
Abílio Leitão
South Australian Fish
