Spikey bass
(Hypopterus macropterus)
Classification
Species:
Hypopterus macropterus
Genus:
Hypopterus - Spikey basses
Family: Latidae - Lates perches
Order: Perciformes - Perches
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
General data
Scientific names:
Spikey bass
Habitat:
Saltwater
Climates:
Tropical, Subtropical
Native to coast of:
Australia & Oceania
Distribution:
Indian ocean
The spikey bass (Hypopterus macropterus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Latidae, the lates perches. It is endemic to coastal waters off Western Australia, where it inhabits areas with soft substrates. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Hypopterus.
The spikey bass is an olive brown bass-like fish fading pale silvery below, each scale is marked with a dark oval spot and there are eight indistinct vertical bands along the head and body. This species has a deeper body than other species in the Latidae.