Golden eye jobfish (Pristipomoides flavipinnis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Lutjanidae · Genus: Pristipomoides.

Accepted name: Pristipomoides flavipinnis · Authority: Shinohara, 1963 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276553.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276553 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Pristipomoides flavipinnis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 76.5999984741211 cm · Common length: 35 cm · Depth range: 90–360 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 35.8 of 100 · Fishery importance: highly commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults occur over rocky bottoms; off Guam, caught most abundantly between 180-270 m (Ref. 9821). They feed primarily on benthic fishes and to a lesser extent on crustaceans, squids, and pelagic tunicates. Marketed mainly fresh.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 202) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pristipomoides-flavipinnis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

425 georeferenced occurrence records for Pristipomoides flavipinnis are published through GBIF from 8 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 17 distinct locations from a sample of 425 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Solomon Islands (394); Japan (8); Australia (5); Indonesia (5); Chinese Taipei (5); New Caledonia (4); Wallis and Futuna (3); Northern Mariana Islands (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385177) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385177&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276553 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Pristipomoides flavipinnis Shinohara, 1963 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 194401) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194401/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385177) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385177/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pristipomoides flavipinnis was first formally described in 1963 by the Japanese zoologist Shiro Shinohara with the type locality given as Naha Fish Market on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. The specific name flavipinnis means "yellow fins", a reference to the yellowish colour of the dorsal fin and the anal fin.

Description

Pristipomoides flavipinnishas an elongated, robust body which has a depth of around a third of its standard length. The space between the eyes is flat and it has a lower jaw which protrudes. In both upper and lower jaws there is an outer row of conical and canine-like teeth and an inner row of bristle-like teeth, the anterior canines on the lower jaw are enlarged. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a triangular patch and there are no teeth on the tongue.

The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The bases of both the dorsal and anal fins lack scales and the last soft ray of each of these fins is extended into a short filament. The pectoral fins are long extending as far as the anus and contain 16 rays. The caudal fin is forked.

The back and upper flanks are pale pinkish, fading to silvery on the lower flanks and abdomen. There are dark spots on the top of the headIn life the dorsal fin has a yellowish margin. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm, although 35 cm is more typical.

Distribution and habitat

Pristipomoides flavipinnis occurs in the Pacific Ocean from western Thailand and southeastern Asia east to Tahiti, north to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and south to Australia. It occurs at depths between 90 and 360 m over rocky substrates.

Biology

Pristipomoides flavipinnis feeds mainly on benthic fishes supplementing this diet with crustaceans, squids and pelagic tunicates. They attain sexual maturity at 2.3 years old and are reproductive for a mean period of 8.5 years. They spawn throughout the year, spawning peaking between December and February.

Fisheries

Pristipomoides flavipinnis is a target species for commercial fisheries and is mainly caught using bottom longlines and handlines. It is frequently seen in the fish markets in some parts of its range and is exported from Fiji. Its smaller size means that this species is more frequently used in deep frying.

Source: Wikipedia: Pristipomoides flavipinnis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pristipomoides_flavipinnis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.