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Sand Bass

Sand Bass

Psammoperca datnioides

Quick Facts

Scientific namePsammoperca datnioides

Other namesBlack Sand Bass, Dwarf Palmer Perch, Glasseye Perch, Jewel Eye, Pink Eyed Bass, Reef Barramundi, Sand Perch, Waigeo Barramundi, Waigieu Seaperch

SizeUp to 47 cm (18.5 in)

WeightUp to 3 kg (6.6 lb)

FamilyBarramundi / Latidae

Distribution

Habitat & AU DistributionEstuaries, mangroves, brackish water, shallow coastal waters, inshore reefs/structure

The Sand Bass is a compact, reef-associated perch found along the coasts of Australia. It grows to about 21 cm long, making it a relatively small member of the Lates perch family.
In Australia, the Sand Bass is found right around the tropical north, from Busselton in Western Australia across to Moreton Bay in Queensland. It is found only in Australia and nowhere else in the world.
By day, Sand Bass tend to hide in holes and crevices on rocky or coral reefs, often in weedy patches. They are much more active after dark, when they move out to feed.
At night, Sand Bass hunt for fish and crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp along the reef. Hunting under the cover of darkness is a common tactic among reef perches.
Sand Bass also move into estuaries, where rivers meet the sea. The ability to cope with both saltwater and brackish water gives them access to a wider range of feeding grounds.
The Sand Bass belongs to the family Latidae, the same family as the famous Barramundi. Despite sharing a family, it reaches only a fraction of the size of its well-known relative.
For many years, Australian Sand Bass were grouped together with a closely related species from further north in the Indo-Pacific. A 2018 study confirmed that the Australian fish is its own species, Psammoperca datnioides, distinct from its look-alike neighbour.
One feature that can help with identification is a single large flat spine at the back corner of the gill cover. It is the kind of detail worth handling carefully if you pick one up.
The lateral line is a sensory system that fish use to detect movement in the water. In the Sand Bass, it extends all the way onto the tail fin, which is a distinctive trait shared across its close relatives.
Because the Sand Bass was only recently confirmed as a species in its own right, relatively little has been gathered on its biology and life history. There is still plenty to learn about this fish in Australian waters.

Species Interaction

Sand Bass: A Quiet Estuarine Fish, Lightly Known

Recreational Fishing
Research & Rare Encounters
Ecosystem Role

The Sand Bass is a relatively obscure estuarine and coastal species found across northern Australia and into the Indo-Pacific, and it attracts little documented human interaction. Recreational anglers in northern Australian waters occasionally encounter them as incidental catches alongside more targeted species. Research into the species remains sparse, and there is limited specific information on commercial harvest, cultural significance or any other structured human interaction with this fish.

Species
Sustainability

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Carangaria incertae sedis
Family: Latidae
Genus: Psammoperca
Species: Psammoperca datnioides

Conservation Status

The Sand Bass (Psammoperca datnioides) has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List, and it carries no listing under Australia’s EPBC Act. As a species associated with estuarine and coastal habitats across northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific, it remains largely undocumented in formal stock assessments.