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The black spots on the sides of the Moses Perch Lutjanus russelli (Bleeker) reputedly have a Biblical connotation. It seems therefore that the originators of the name were considerably confused over their Biblical characters. St. Peter's fingers are supposed to have caused the black spots on the sides of another species (Tilapia) from the Lake of Galilee when he took a piece of money from the fish's mouth. Another fish associated with this legend is the true John Dory, Zeusfaber Linnaeus.
The Moses Perch occurs on reefs and in estuaries along the entire Queensland coastline. The colour varies from pinkish-red to greenish; the body carries six or seven yellowish longitudinal stripes in the adults. The black oval blotch (or "finger-mark") on the sides lies mostly above the lateral line. This fish grows to 500 mm (20 inches), and is highly esteemed as food.
Another fish commonly called Moses Perch, the closely-related Black-spot Sea-perch Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forskal) has 12 or 13 rays to the dorsal fin where the foregoing species possesses 14 or 15. Its general colour ranges from golden yellow to greenish with narrow golden streaks along the scale rows. The black "fingermark" on the side is located mostly below the lateral line. The yellow caudal and dorsal fins have reddish margins.
This Sea-perch grows to 500 mm (20 inches); it is usually line-fished in the vicinity of coastal reefs, but sometimes appears in offshore prawn-trawls working muddy bottoms. It is a good table-fish. The Black-spot Seaperch is separable from the Moses Perch by its recurved head profile.
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