Corresponding author: Kunto Wibowo ( kuntowe@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Ronald Fricke
© 2021 Kunto Wibowo, Hiroyuki Motomura.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Wibowo K, Motomura H (2021) First records of the bandfin scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis vittapinna (Actinopterygii, Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae), from Australia. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 51(1): 53-57. https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.51.63347
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Seven specimens (15.6–43.5 mm standard length) of Scorpaenopsis vittapinna Randall et Eschmeyer, 2002 (Scorpaenidae), a widely distributed Indo-West Pacific species, are recorded from Australian waters for the first time. A full description of the specimens is given, and intraspecific variations in comparison with the type specimens are noted.
Australia, description, distribution, morphology, new records, variations
The Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Scorpaenopsis Heckel, 1837 (Scorpaenidae), currently including 28 valid species (
Seven small scorpionfish specimens collected from northwestern and northeastern Australia, found recently by HM in the collections of several Australian museums, are herein identified as Scorpaenopsis vittapinna Randall et Eschmeyer, 2002, a widely distributed Indo-West Pacific species, although not previously recorded from Australian waters. The first recorded specimens from the Australian region are described herein.
Counts and measurements followed
(7 specimens, 15.6–43.5 mm SL). AMS I. 18740-026, 2 specimens, 42.5–43.5 mm SL, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Coral Sea, Queensland (Qld), 14°36′S, 145°36′E, 10–12 m, D. Hoese et al., 8 Nov. 1975; AMS I. 33728-021, 35.9 mm SL, outer slope on west side of Ashmore Reef, Coral Sea, Qld, 10°16′11″S, 144°24′07″E, 11–15 m, FNQ Team, 21 Jan. 1993; NTM S. 12319-029, 15.6 mm SL, east channel in Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, Western Australia (WA), 12°08′S, 123°06′E, 11–12 m, H. Larson, 20 Sep. 1987; NTM S. 13585-027, 20.7 mm SL, outer reef slope of Great Detached Reef, Coral Sea, Qld, 11°42′36″S, 144°04′00″E, 21–23 m, H. Larson et al., 12 Jan. 1993; QM I. 15552, 24.7 mm SL, west of Raine Island, Coral Sea, Qld, 11°36′S, 144°01′E, team of AIMS, AM, and QM, 13 Feb. 1979; WAM P. 28022-012, 42.3 mm SL, Clerke Reef, Rowley Shoals, WA, 17°18′S, 119°22′E, 7–12 m, G. Allen and R. Steene, 4 Aug. 1983.
Morphometrics (expressed as percentages of standard length) of Scorpaenopsis vittapinna.
AMS I. | AMS I. | NTM S. | NTM S. | WAM P. | Mean value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18740-026 | 18740-026 | 12319-029 | 13585-027 | 28022-012 | ||
Standard length [mm] | 42.5 | 43.5 | 15.6 | 20.7 | 42.3 | |
Body depth | 36.0 | 35.2 | 35.3 | 33.3 | 35.2 | 35.0 |
Body width | 24.0 | 23.4 | 20.5 | 21.7 | 24.8 | 22.9 |
Head length | 46.4 | 45.5 | 48.7 | 48.3 | 45.9 | 47.0 |
Snout length | 14.1 | 13.8 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 13.9 | 14.2 |
Orbit diameter | 10.1 | 10.6 | 10.9 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
Interorbital width | 7.1 | 6.7 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 6.6 | 7.4 |
Upper-jaw length | 24.5 | 23.0 | 23.7 | 24.2 | 23.4 | 23.7 |
Postorbital length | 23.1 | 23.7 | 23.7 | 23.2 | 23.6 | 23.5 |
Pre-dorsal-fin length | 43.3 | 43.4 | 46.2 | 46.9 | 43.5 | 44.7 |
Pre-anal-fin length | 66.1 | 69.0 | 66.7 | 69.6 | 67.1 | 67.7 |
Pre-pelvic-fin length | 36.2 | 37.2 | 39.1 | 36.7 | 37.8 | 37.4 |
1st dorsal-fin spine length | 4.7 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
2nd dorsal-fin spine length | 7.8 | 8.5 | 6.4 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 7.6 |
Longest dorsal-fin spine length | 15.3 | 15.9 | 16.0 | 15.9 | 15.1 | 15.7 |
11th dorsal-fin spine length | 9.4 | 10.3 | 6.4 | 8.2 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
12th dorsal-fin spine length | 13.9 | — | 13.5 | 13.0 | 12.5 | 13.2 |
Longest dorsal-fin soft ray length | 20.5 | 20.0 | 16.0 | 17.9 | 22.5 | 19.4 |
1st anal-fin spine length | 10.4 | 11.7 | — | 11.1 | 9.0 | 10.5 |
2nd anal-fin spine length | 21.4 | 20.9 | — | 17.4 | 18.0 | 19.4 |
3rd anal-fin spine length | 18.4 | 18.4 | 16.0 | 15.0 | 16.1 | 16.8 |
Longest anal-fin soft ray length | 22.8 | 21.6 | — | 17.9 | 22.0 | 21.1 |
Pectoral-fin length | 36.0 | 34.0 | — | 30.9 | 31.0 | 32.9 |
Pelvic-fin spine length | 16.9 | 17.0 | 17.3 | 17.9 | 16.5 | 17.1 |
Longest pelvic-fin soft ray length | 26.4 | 26.0 | 25.0 | 24.6 | 25.5 | 25.5 |
Caudal-fin length | 28.2 | 28.5 | 29.5 | 28.5 | 27.0 | 28.3 |
Caudal-peduncle length | 17.9 | 17.5 | 16.0 | 15.9 | 18.2 | 17.1 |
Caudal-peduncle depth | 11.8 | 11.7 | 12.2 | 11.6 | 11.3 | 11.7 |
Body moderately elongate, depth 2.8–3.0 in SL; width 1.4–1.7 in body depth. Head length 2.1–2.2 in SL; snout length 3.3 in HL. Orbit diameter 4.3–4.6 in HL. Interorbital width 5.8–6.9 in HL. Dorsal profile of head not arched (Fig.
Mouth large, slightly oblique, forming an angle of 20–25 degrees to horizontal axis of head and body. Posterior margin of maxilla slightly beyond posterior margin of orbit (not reaching the posterior orbit margin in two smallest specimens). Jaws with a band of slender, incurved, conical teeth; about 7 tooth rows at anterior of upper jaw and 6 in lower; band narrowing to 1 or 2 teeth posteriorly; teeth progressively longer inwardly. Vomer with short conical teeth, longer posteriorly, forming a V-shaped patch. Palatine teeth absent. Tongue thick, rounded, with fleshy tip and a median skeletal rim.
Interorbital ridges low, rounded, beginning with indistinct ridge from anterior interorbital space, conjoined level with tympanic spines posteriorly and forming a low ridge to anterior angular edge of occipital pit. Occipital pit very shallow. Nasal, preocular, supraocular, and postocular spines simple; postocular spine slightly canted laterally, base wide. Tympanic spine simple, pointed, slightly canted laterally; base joined to interorbital ridge or to parietal-spine base by low ridge. Parietal spine simple, base distinctly medial to tympanic spines. Nuchal spine simple, base continuous with parietal spine. A low transverse ridge posteriorly in occipital pit between bases of parietal and nuchal spines. Sphenotic with two small spines. Postorbital smooth, without pointed spines or with 1 or 2 tiny spines. Pterotic spine simple, located below parietal spine. Upper and lower posttemporal spines simple, upper shorter than lower. Supracleithral spine simple, with distinct ridge on dorsal margin. Cleithral spine flattened, strongly pointed. Upper opercular spine divided into 2 points (simple and divided into 3 points, respectively, in two specimens 15.6 and 35.9 mm SL), with low median ridges (Fig.
Lateral surface of body covered with ctenoid scales, becoming cycloid ventrally. Exposed cycloid scales covering pectoral-fin base and anteroventral surface of body. Cycloid or ctenoid scales embedded in thin skin covering cheek. Body scales not extending onto fin rays or membranes, except basally on pectoral and caudal fins. Ctenoid scales covering preopercle behind eye, below pterotic and lower posttemporal spines, and distal area between upper and lower opercular spines. Lateral line complete, first two scales with spine-like projection at end of sensory tube.
Underside of dentary with three sensory pores; single pores behind and on each side of lower-jaw symphysial knob; a small pore behind nasal spine and on each of mid-interorbital ridge; some small pores associated with suborbital ridge and preopercular spine bases.
A short slender tentacle on posterior end of preocular spine base. A fleshy tentacle associated with supraocular spine, length about equal to orbit diameter. A slender tentacle posteriorly on parietal and nuchal spine bases. Many small papillae on outer margins of eye membrane. A tentacle, with several short branches along distal margin, on upper posterior edge of low membranous tube associated with anterior nostril, extending beyond posterior nostril when laid back. Anterior lacrimal spine associated with a short slender tentacle. Posterior lacrimal spine associated with a broad fleshy tentacle; its length greater than that of anterior nostril tentacle; posterior lacrimal spine tentacle linked posteriorly to head by fringed skin. A broad, thin skin flap associated with each of 3rd–5th preopercular spines. Many fleshy tentacles on ventral surface of head, anteriormost longest. A slender, fleshy tentacle centrally on cheek. Several slender tentacles associated with pored lateral scales, scattered on lateral surface of body.
Color of preserved specimens (based on all specimens). Head and body yellowish brown or whitish; faint brownish blotches below eye and dorsally on operculum; ca. three faint broad brownish blotches dorsolaterally on body. Dorsal fin with small brownish spots scattered on basal membranes of spinous and soft-rayed portions in some specimens. Pectoral fin with some small brownish spots dorsally or dark brownish membranes between rays. Pelvic fin with broad dark brown medial band (Fig.
Scorpaenopsis vittapinna can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 17–19 (usually 18, rarely 19), longitudinal scale series 40–44; interorbital width 5.7–6.9 in HL; snout length 3.0–3.3 in HL; mouth slightly oblique; posterior margin of maxilla just reaching a vertical through posterior margin of orbit or slightly beyond (except in juveniles); occipital pit shallow; upper opercular spine usually with 2–4 points; lower opercular spine single; and a broad dark brown medial band on pelvic and anal fins (
The present specimens were identified as S. vittapinna, agreeing closely with the diagnostic features of the species given by
Scorpaenopsis vittapinna is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, having been recorded from the following localities: Red Sea, South Africa (type locality), Mauritius, Comoro Islands, Seychelles, Maldives Islands, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Caroline Islands, Coral Sea (New Caledonia), Fiji, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Samoa, French Polynesia (
We are especially grateful to A. Hay, S. Reader and M. McGrouther (AMS), G. Dally and M. Hammer (NTM), J. Johnson (QM), and G. Moore and M. Allen (WAM) for opportunities to examine specimens, to S. Bogorodsky (SMF) for reviewing the manuscript, and to G. Hardy (Ngunguru, New Zealand) for reading the manuscript and assisting with English. This study was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP23580259, JP26450265, and JP20H03311; the JSPS Core-to-Core Program: B Asia-Africa Science Platforms; the “Biological Properties of Biodiversity Hotspots in Japan” project of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan; and the “Establishment of Glocal Research and Education Network in the Amami Islands” project of Kagoshima University, adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.