Parma occidentalis
Western scalyfin
Parma occidentalis, Rottnest Island, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Parma occidentalis, juvenile, Rottnest Island, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Parma occidentalis, Rottnest Island, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Parma occidentalis, juvenile, Abrolhos Is, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Parma occidentalis, adult, Rottnest Island, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Similar Species
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Occurs on many of the same sheltered southwestern reefs as McCulloch’s scalyfin, but is a less abundant species. Adults of the two species are difficult to distinguish because they have a similar colour pattern; however, the head of the western scalyfin has a much steeper profile and the mouth projects more. The juveniles are readily distinguished because of vertical white bars on the western scalyfin.
Information
Max Size: 13 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 17.1-24°C
Depth: 1–10 m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
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: Widespread (67.9% 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