Dendrochirus brachypterus

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Dendrochirus brachypterus
Dendrochirus brachypterus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Dendrochirus
Species:
D. brachypterus
Binomial name
Dendrochirus brachypterus
(Cuvier, 1829)
Synonyms [2]
  • Pterois brachypteraCuvier, 1829

Dendrochirus brachypterus, the dwarf lionfish, short-finned turkeyfish, shortspine rockcod or shortspine scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.

Contents

Taxonomy

Dendrochirus brachypterus Was first formally described in 1829 as Pterois brachyptera by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with no type locality given. [3] This species is the type species of the brachypterus species complex within the genus Dendrochirus . [4] The specific name means “short finned”, an allusion to the relatively short pectoral fins compared to Dendrochirus zebra which Cuvier first described in the same publication. [5]

Description

Dendrochirus brachypterus has 13 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays in its dorsal fin, the middlespeines of the dorsal fin are shorter than the depth of the body, and there are 3 spines and 5 soft rays in the anal fin. [2] The background colour is dusky mottled brown to reddish-brown boreken by darker bars on the body, the pectoral fins are distinctly banded. There is a short tentacle over the eye and leaf-like appendages on the head and along the lateral line which vary in their development. There are no filaments on the pelvic fins. [6] There are black spots edged with red on the filaments extending from the dorsal spines and there are 8-10 dark bars on pectoral fins. [7] This species attains a maximum published total length of 17 cm (6.7 in). [2]

Distribution and habitat

Dendrochirus brachypterus has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the eastern coast of Africa from the Red Sea south to South Africa and eastwards to Samoa, north to the Philippines and south to Australia. [1] In Australian waters this species occurs from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales, as well as Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. [6] The dwarf lionfish is found at depths between 1 and 80 m (3 ft 3 in and 262 ft 6 in) in reef flats and shallow lagoons, where there are weed-covered rocks on sandy substrates. [2]

Biology

Dendochirus brachypterus is a nocturnal predator of small crustaceans. [1] The adults are fequently found on sponges while small aggregations of up to 10 juveniles frequent reef outcrops. [2] During the day it is known to shelter in caves and crevices and among sponges . [6] The males and females form pairs to mate and the females have specialised structures on the ovaries, these includeg stalk-like egg creating lamellae and secretory cells in the epithelium. [2] The dorsal fin spines are venomous. [6]

Utilisation

Dendochirus brachypterus is used as a food fish in some subsistence fisheries. [1] It is occasionally seen in the aquarium trade, [8] it has laid eggs in captivity but raising the young has proved very difficult. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dendrochirus biocellatus</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus biocellatus, the twospot turkeyfish, twinspot lionfish, twoeyed lionfish or ocellated lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, In the wild, the species eats small fish as well as shrimp.

Clearfin lionfish Species of fish

The clearfin lionfish, also called the tailbar lionfish, radiata lionfish, fireworks fish or radial firefish, is a carnivorous, ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species lives in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This is the only lionfish species which has spines without any markings. It can also be recognized by the pair of horizontal white stripes on its caudal peduncle.

<i>Dendrochirus</i> Genus of fishes

Dendrochirus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are mostly known as turkeyfishes or pygmy lionfishes. They are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are also popular aquarium fish.

<i>Ebosia</i> Genus of fishes

Ebosia is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are known as falcate lionfishes. They are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Dendrochirus zebra</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus zebra, known commonly as the zebra turkeyfish or zebra lionfish among other vernacular names, is a species of marine fish in the family Scorpaenidae.

<i>Parapterois heterura</i> Species of fish

Parapterois heterura, the blackfoot firefish, blackfoot firefish, blue-fin lionfish, black-Foot lionfish or gurnard lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is widely distributed on the southeastern coast of Africa as well as off Japan and in Indonesia where it is usually found in sheltered coastal bays with a soft bottom, such as fine sand or mud. It is found in depths ranging from 40 to 300 metres. This species is a sedentary fish and may even bury itself within the substrate. P. heterura flashes its brightly colored pectoral fins to startle predators and escape, but it may also use these fins to corner prey. This behavior has been demonstrated in other lionfish. This species can be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Pterois miles</i> Species of fish

Pterois miles, the devil firefish or common lionfish, is a species of ray-finned fish native to the western Indo-Pacific region. It is frequently confused with its close relative, the red lionfish. The scientific name is from Greek pteron, meaning "wing", and Latin miles, meaning "soldier".

<i>Pterois antennata</i> Species of fish

Pterois antennata, the spotfin lionfish, banded lionfish, broadbarred lionfish, broadbarred firefish, raggedfinned firefish, raggedfinned scorpionfish or roughscaled lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the tropical Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Pterois mombasae</i> Species of fish

Pterois mombasae, the African lionfish, deepwater firefish or frillfin turkeyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the tropical Indian Ocean, typically in soft-bottomed areas of the ocean, often in conjunction with invertebrate growth. It grows to a maximum size of 20 cm, and is of moderate commercial value.

<i>Dendrochirus barberi</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus barberi, the Hawaiian lionfish or green lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It occurs in the Eastern Central Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Scorpaenopsis papuensis</i> Species of fish

Scorpaenopsis papuensis, the Papuan scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific.

<i>Parascorpaena mossambica</i> Species of fish

Parascorpaena mossambica, the Mozambique scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is native to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean to Micronesia, although the Pacific populations may be a separate species. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL.

The Andover lionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Pterois sphex</i> Species of fish

Pterois sphex, the Hawaiian turkeyfish or Hawaiian lionfish is a species of ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the eastern Central Pacific, specifically in marine waters off of Hawaii. It is found in seaward reefs and lagoons at depths from 3 – 122 m.

Barchin scorpionfish Species of fish

The barchin scorpionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It comes from the Indo-Pacific. The species is commonly seen in areas with mixed sand and rubble in reef flats, shallow lagoons, and channels.

<i>Pterois russelii</i> Species of fish

Pterois russelii, the largetail turkeyfish, plaintail firefish, plaintail turkeyfish, Russell's firefish, Russell's lionfish, spotless butterfly-cod or the spotless firefish, is a species of ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean from the eastern part of Africa to the Persian Gulf.

Pterois brevipectoralis is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species is found in the Western Indian Ocean at a depth of 70 to 80 m.

Luna lionfish Species of fish

The Luna lionfish, the dragon's beard fish or Japanese lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Scorpaenodes guamensis</i> Species of fish

Scorpaenodes guamensis, the Guam scorpionfish or common scorpionfish, is a species of venomous, marine, ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Pterois cincta</i>

Pterois cincta, the Red Sea lionfish or Red Sea clearfin lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the Red Sea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). "Dendrochirus brachypterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T69793633A69800927. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69793633A69800927.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Dendrochirus brachypterus" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Dendrochirus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Matsunuma, M.; H. Motomura; and S. V. Bogorodsky (2017). "Review of Indo-Pacific dwarf lionfishes (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) in the Dendrochirus brachypterus complex, with description of a new species from the western Indian Ocean". Ichthyological Research. 64 (4): 369–414.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bray, D.J. (2017). "Dendrochirus brachypterus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Dendrochirus brachypterus Scorpaenidae Dwarf Lionfish". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Bob Goemans (2012). "Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier, 1829) Dwarf Lionfish, Shortfin Lionfish". Saltcorner Fish Library. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish Dendrochirus brachypterus". Maidenhead Aquatics. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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