About Latropiscis purpurissatus (Richardson, 1843)
Latropiscis purpurissatus, commonly known as the sergeant baker, is a species of flagfin that is endemic to Australia. It is the only confirmed known member of the genus Latropiscis, and reaches a maximum total length of 60.0 centimetres (23.6 in). According to the Australian Museum, this fish is named for Sergeant William Baker, who served as orderly sergeant to Admiral Arthur Phillip, and may have been the first colonist to catch this species. Baker originally sailed to Australia on the transport ship Charlotte as a Corporal of Marines. The sergeant baker is commonly found in warm southern Australian waters between Queensland and Western Australia, where it lives on the bottom of coastal and deep reef environments. It will readily take bait or lures, but its meat is generally considered poor quality for eating.
