''Pempheris affinis'', the black-tipped bullseye, is a species of marine

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or hor ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Pempheridae Sweepers are small, tropical marine (occasionally brackish) perciform fish of the family Pempheridae. Found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, the family contains about 26 species in two genera. One species (''Pempheris xan ...

, the sweepers. It is from the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Description

''Pempheris affinis'' the characteristic profile of species within the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Pempheris ''Pempheris'' is a genus of sweepers native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Species There are currently more than 70 recognized species in this genus: * '' Pempheris adspersa'' Griffin, 1927 (New Zealand bigeye) * '' Pempheris adust ...

'' with a large head, nearly straight back and a rapidly tapering lower body, the body being deeply compressed and having a covering of small ctenoid scales. Its eyes are very large, as is the obliquely angled mouth and a large obliquely-angled mouth. The body is greyish above with yellow or silvery flanks and it has black tips to the dorsal and

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

as well as a black margin to the

caudal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

. There are 5 spines and 10-11 soft rays in the

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...

while the

has 3 spines and 38-42 soft rays. This species is

Bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some Fungus, fungi, microorganisms including ...

. They can attain a

total length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish ...

of ,

Distribution

''Pempheris affinis'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to eastern Australia where it is found from Hervey Bay,

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

in the north south to, at least, Montague Island in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Habitat and biology

''Pempheris affinis'' is found on rocky reefs down to at least in depth. In the day it is frequently recorded in aggregations in caves and under ledges. This is a nocturnal species. In places this fish can be so abundant it forms dense shoals which an observer may be unable to see through. It forms mixed schls with the smallscale bullseye '' P. compressa''.

Species description

''Pempheris affinis'' was first formally described in 1911 by Allan Riverstone McCulloch with the type locality given as

Port Jackson Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (p ...

, New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2296523 affinis Fish described in 1911