HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesPerch-like fishBarbeled gruntersAustralian striped velvetchin Australian striped velvetchin (Hapalogenys dampieriensis) Scientific name: Hapalogenys dampieriensis Iwatsuki & Russell, 2006 The Australian striped velvetchin (Hapalogenys dampieriensis) is a marine fish of the family Hapalogenyidae. Native range: Indo-west Pacific, north-western Australia. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Distinguished from other congeners by having the following combination of characters: lower lip fleshy with dense cluster of very short papillae anteriorly, scaly posteriorly (on posterior abdominal part of angular of lower jaws); presence of 10 unobstructed pores on and behind chin (posteriormost 2 sometimes slit-like); maxilla without scales; presence of 4 narrow longitudinal dark stripes (2nd and 3rd stripes most distinct, 2nd from nape to base of mid dorsal-fin soft rays, 3rd from eye to last dorsal-fin ray base) in specimens less than about 10 cm SL, thereafter 2nd and 3rd stripes visible only, remainder and 3rd stripes not present in specimens less than about 20 cm SL, their width below base of 5th and 6th dorsal-fin spines clearly narrower than pupil diameter in 6.5-15.8 cm SL); pored lateral-line scales 41-45; soft rayed portions of dorsal and anal fins somewhatSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHapalogenys dampieriensisFamilyHapalogenyidae (Barbeled grunters)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length30.0Depth range87–230 m (285–755 ft)EnvironmentMarine; benthopelagic; depth range 87 - 230 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-west Pacific: north-western Australia.Conservation status (IUCN)Not Evaluated SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026