Harlequin sandperch (Parapercis maculata)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17; Vertebrae: 30. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body color in life light brown dorsally, center of scales whitish, 6 irregular, semicircular brown blotches along back that link narrowly to large dark brown spots on about lower 2/3 of body, with the spots vertically elongate anteriorly, horizontally elongate and darker posteriorly; head orangish brown with small dark brown spots dorsally on snout and nape, 7 narrow bluish white bars (3 on opercle and preopercle, 4 radiating from ventral and anterior part of eye); dorsal and anal fins are translucent whitish, the spinous dorsal with a large black basal spot mainly between the 3rd and 5th spines; rows or round orange spots on soft dorsal fin; small irregular white spots on anal fin; dark brown about lower third of caudal fin with small whitish spots along rays, the rest of the fin light grey with small wh

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.