Parequula melbournensis

Silverbelly
Parequula melbournensis
Parequula melbournensis, Dunsborough, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Parequula melbournensis
Parequula melbournensis, Dunsborough, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Parequula melbournensis
Parequula melbournensis, Flinders Is, TAS, Photo: Andrew Green
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Parequula melbournensis
Parequula melbournensis
Parequula melbournensis

Similar Species

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Differs from most other fishes in the family in having the first spines in the dorsal fin relatively short rather than elevated. The species is abundant on soft sediment in a variety of habitats, from sheltered estuaries to deep sandy bottom along the exposed coast. During the day they generally occur in schools, which disperse at night.


Information

Max Size: 22 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 13-22.8°C

Depth: 1-100m

Habitat Generalization Index: 8.05

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (11.9% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (3 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney