(Image credit: Rudie Kuiter / Aquatic Photographics)

Harlequin fish vary in colour, from orange or brown, to greenish-grey or pinkish above, paler below, with large yellow to green blotches on the lower sides, bright blue spots or dashes on the head and upper sides and a large red blotch behind the pectoral fin.

They have a large head witheyes on top,a large mouth with enormous canine-like teeth. Dorsal fin long-based, continuous with a low central notch, anal fin opposite the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin, pectoral and tail fins rounded. Orange, brownish, greenish-grey or pinkish above, paler below, with large yellow to green blotches on lower sides, bright blue spots or dashes on head and upper side; a large red blotch behind the pectoral; fins yellow, orange or dusky coloured.

Length: Up to 75 cm

Habitat

Coastal reefs with drop-offs and caves; 2-30 m depth

Log it

Log all sightings in Victorian waters only

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

Redmap species descriptions were based, with permission, on the following resources:

Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters by G. J. Edgar, Revised Ed. (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Edited by M. Gomon. D. Bray and R. Kuiter (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/