Description:

Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays: 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Relatively slender, elongate, fusiform body with deeply forked or lunate tail. Last ray of dorsal and anal fins elongate. 

Colour. Reddish silverback becoming paler and more silver down flanks to stomach. Pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins red to yellowish red, distal portion of spinous dorsal 
membrane yellow. Pelvic fins white. Large mouth with prominent dark edged maxilla extending below middle of eye. Lower jaw protrudes. Jaw teeth very small.
 

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 110 cm TL.
 

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits reefs and rocky bottom areas to depths of at least 330 m (most commonly 100-250 m) but has also been reported in depths as shallow as 10-15 m. Feed on fishes, 
squids and crustaceans. Solitary.

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery typically in deep waters at the edge of the plateau (bordaz) or other 
banks, but is an uncommon component of the catch. 

Notes:

Differs from the Smalltooth jobfish, Aphareus furca in coloration and gill raker counts. The Smalltooth jobfish is steely-blue to purplish-brown, and has 6-12 + 15-18 gill 
rakers on the first gill arch (vs. 16-19 + 32-35 in the Rusty Jobfish).

References:

Bray, D.J. (2017). Aphareus rutilans in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1236 (23/03/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Aphareus-rutilans.html (23/03/19).
Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Russell, B. et al. (2016). Aphareus rutilans. The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T194360A2321168.en. (23/03/19).

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Aphareus rutilans, Rusty jobfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/aphareus-rutilans-cuvier-1830/ (edited 18/07/22).