galloper, thread-finned sea perch

Found Shark Bay northwards, mainly in the western Pacific.

In older fish the body is pink bearing dusky vertical bars, and with a network of fine yellow lines running over the head ; young fish are brighter in colour, with 10-12 wavy blue bands running lengthwise down the body. In young fish the 4th to 7th rays of the dorsal fin are long and filament-like ; they become shorter with age. There is a characteristic deep pit, or fossa, located before the eyes.

As a general rule, the Chinaman fish is considered poisonous. Do not eat it..