Scientific Name
Glaucosoma hebraicum

Common Name
Westralian jewfish

Biology
Westralian jewfish live in shallow inshore waters and depths to over 200 m. They are present over hard, flat sea beds and in reefs, wrecks and underwater caverns and gutters. Adult fish move into shallower waters in the cooler months between April and June. Juveniles tend to remain in shallower water than adults and are rarely found in waters more than 100 m deep. Adults feed mainly on fish, also rock lobsters, crabs, squid, octopus and cuttlefish. Marketed as fresh fish.

Classification

Classified By

Richardson, 1845

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Pearl perches (Glaucosomatidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Indian Ocean

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean: endemic to Australian waters. Distributed from the Recherche Archipelago off Esperance, to Beagle Island, although they are rare north of Shark Bay. Records from Japan and Taiwan are Glaucosoma buergeri.

Range

16°S - 36°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

200 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range ? - 200 m

Trophic Level

4.3 s.e. 0.62 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

122 cm

Common Length

80.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3-4; Fec=300,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated