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Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) — Latidae

Dwarf palmer

Psammoperca waigiensis
Family: Latidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Latidae that grows up to 47 cm.

Length
47 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
3.0–12.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Waigieu seaperch is a perch-like fish from the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Bay of Bengal through the Indo-Australian Archipelago to northern Australia, the Philippines and Japan. The species grows to about 47 cm and has a streamlined, dark brown to golden body with yellow-edged lateral-line scales. It lives on rocky and coral reefs, often in weedy zones, and shelters in holes and crevices by day. At night it hunts fish and crustaceans. It is a valued food and game fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dwarf palmer?

The Dwarf palmer has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Yellow-bordered lateral line scales; nocturnal reef predator

Where does the Dwarf palmer live?

The Dwarf palmer lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Dwarf palmer get?

The Dwarf palmer grows to a maximum of about 47 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Dwarf palmer dangerous to humans?

No, the Dwarf palmer is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Dwarf palmer edible?

Yes, the Dwarf palmer is commonly eaten.

More photos

Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) — Latidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) sharkdevotee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) — Latidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) — Latidae — 4
Luke Lythgoe (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Dwarf palmer (Psammoperca waigiensis) — Latidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) budak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Dwarf palmer verified
Scientific name
Psammoperca waigiensis
Family
Latidae
Other names
Dwarf palmer; Dwarf palmer perch; Glasseye perch; Jewel eye; Waigieu seaperch; Reef barramundi; Sand Bass; Waigeu perch; Pink-eyed bass; Sand perch; Sand-bass; Sea perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
47.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Shelters during the day, hunts at night; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Yellow-bordered lateral line scales; nocturnal reef predator sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with baitfish or lures near reef, mainly at night. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Latidae

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