Callanthias allporti was first formally described in 1876 by the German-born British herpetologist and ichthyologist Albert Günther with its type locality given as Tasmania.

[2] The Splendid sea perch has the specific name allporti which honours the British born lawyer and naturalist Morton Allport who presented two specimens of this species to the British Museum (Natural History).

[5] The caudal fin varies in shape from emarginate to lunate with the adults growing long filaments on the lobes.

[5] It is found near inshore rocky reefs at depths between 20 and 100 m (66 and 328 ft)[7] using caves and crevices for sheltering at night or from threats.

[6] Callanthis species appear to be protogynous hermaphrodites and the grow of the filaments on the caudal fin may be related to females changing to males.