Steff Kriel, Süd-Afrika
Info
Our very special thanks for the contact and mediation to the photographer goes to Dennis Polak (FishWise Pro) and to the image provider Stef Kriel, both from South Africa :-)
Pogonoperca ocellata lives singly or in pairs among the scree of passages and outer slopes, rarely seen due to their usually deep habitat. They also seem to prefer current-exposed areas such as the edges of passes and reef ledges.
Brief Description:
The body of the soap bass is relatively deep; its depth is equal to the length of the head.
At the tip of the chin is a large, fleshy tentacle, the length of which is equal to the eye diameter .
The lateral line extends to the base of the caudal fin, the body scales are ctenoid and the caudal fin is rounded.
Color: The body is brown with 5 black saddles, first saddle runs through the eye, a second runs through the neck.
at the upper caudal fin base an in black spot is well visible.
The entire body and all fins have numerous small white spots.
The spine of the dorsal fin is yellowish in color.
Etymology:
The species name "ocellata" means "with small eyes", which probably refers to the body and fins (except the upper part of the dorsal spine) covered with small, round, yellowish-white spots
The German name "Seifenbarsch" is due to the fact that the fish are capable of secreting a toxic, bitter-tasting, soap-like foamy skin mucus.
This slime can poison other fish in the immediate vicinity.
Grammiste comprimé Liénard, 1832
Grammistes compressus Liénard, 1834
Grammistes ocellatus (Günther, 1859)
Pogonoperca ocellata lives singly or in pairs among the scree of passages and outer slopes, rarely seen due to their usually deep habitat. They also seem to prefer current-exposed areas such as the edges of passes and reef ledges.
Brief Description:
The body of the soap bass is relatively deep; its depth is equal to the length of the head.
At the tip of the chin is a large, fleshy tentacle, the length of which is equal to the eye diameter .
The lateral line extends to the base of the caudal fin, the body scales are ctenoid and the caudal fin is rounded.
Color: The body is brown with 5 black saddles, first saddle runs through the eye, a second runs through the neck.
at the upper caudal fin base an in black spot is well visible.
The entire body and all fins have numerous small white spots.
The spine of the dorsal fin is yellowish in color.
Etymology:
The species name "ocellata" means "with small eyes", which probably refers to the body and fins (except the upper part of the dorsal spine) covered with small, round, yellowish-white spots
The German name "Seifenbarsch" is due to the fact that the fish are capable of secreting a toxic, bitter-tasting, soap-like foamy skin mucus.
This slime can poison other fish in the immediate vicinity.
Grammiste comprimé Liénard, 1832
Grammistes compressus Liénard, 1834
Grammistes ocellatus (Günther, 1859)
