Parma microlepis
White-ear
Parma microlepis, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Parma microlepis, adult, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Parma microlepis, adult, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Parma microlepis, juvenile, Batemans Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Parma microlepis, juvenile, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Parma microlepis, Intermediate, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Parma microlepis, Maria Island, TAS, Photo: Antonia Cooper
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Characteristic white patch at the back of the head, which contrasts with the dark body; this patch is present even during the colourful juvenile phase. White-ear are extremely abundant on coastal reefs in New South Wales. Males become very aggressive during the breeding season, when they usually develop additional light-coloured patches on the head.
Information
Max Size: 14 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 13-24.6°C
Depth: 0-30m
Habitat Generalization Index: 42.01
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: Common (44.5% 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: Several (7 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