Minous

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Minous
Minousmon.jpg
Grey stingfish (M. monodactylus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Subfamily: Synanceiinae
Tribe: Minoini
Jordan & Starks, 1904 [1]
Genus: Minous
G. Cuvier, 1829
Type species
Scorpaena monodactyla
Bloch & Schneider, 1801 [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Corythobatus Cantor, 1849
  • DecteriasJordan & Starks, 1904
  • Lysodermus Smith & Pope, 1906
  • Paraminous Fowler, 1943

Minous, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, it is the only genus in the tribe Minoini, one of the three tribes which are classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. They are commonly known as stingfishes. They are found in the Indo-West Pacific.

Contents

Painted stinger (Minous pictus) Minous pictus.jpg
Painted stinger (Minous pictus)

Taxonomy

Minous was first described as a genus by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier, in 1876 Pieter Bleeker designated Minous monodactylus, which had originally been described as Scorpaena monodactyla by Bloch and Schneider in 1801, as its type species. [2] It is the only genus in the tribe Minoini within the subfamily Synanceiinae of the family Scorpaenidae. [3] However, some authorities classify this taxon as a subfamily, Minoinae, [4] Others include it within the subfamily Choridactylinae, within the family Synanceiidae. [2]

The genus name, Minous, is a latinisation of woorah minooh, the name that in 1803 the herpetologist Patrick Russell reported was used for the type species in Vizagapatam on the Coromandel Coast in India. [5]

Species

There are currently 15 recognized species in this genus: [4]

Characteristics

Minous stingishes are small, most are less than 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length with mainly scaleless bodies. the lowest ray of the pectoral fin is detached from the fin and is tipped with a cap. [8] The dorsal fins have between 8 and 12 spines and 10 and 14 soft rays, although there is one species with only 4 spines and 18 soft rays. The anal fin has 2 spine and between 7 and 11 soft rays. Their pelvic fin has a single spine and 5 soft rays and the pectoral fin has 12 soft rays. The soft fin rays are unbranched. They may or may not have a swim bladder. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Minous stingfishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea [9] east into the Western pacific, north to Japan and south to Australia. [8] These fishes are found on mud and sand bottoms where they use the detached lower pectoral fin rays to walk over the substrate. [3]

Biology

Minous stingfishes have a venom gland at the base of their fin spines with an anterolateral glandular groove in the spine which takes the venom to the tip. [10] Some species are known to have commensal relationships with hydroids in the order Anthoathecata, there are records of commensalism between various species of Minous and the hydroids of Hydractinia minoi . [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpaenidae</span> Family of fishes

The Scorpaenidae are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas but mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. They should not be confused with the cabezones, of the genus Scorpaenichthys, which belong to a separate, though related, family, Cottidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synanceiinae</span> Family of fishes

Synanceiinae is a subfamily of venomous ray-finned fishes, waspfishes, which is classified as part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific oceans. They are primarily marine, though some species are known to live in fresh or brackish waters. The various species of this family are known informally as stonefish, stinger, stingfish and ghouls. Its species are known to have the most potent neurotoxins of all the fish venoms, secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin spines. The vernacular name, stonefish, for some of these fishes derives from their behaviour of camouflaging as rocks. The type species of the family is the estuarine stonefish.

<i>Scorpaenodes</i> Genus of fishes

Scorpaenodes is a widespread genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The fishes in this genus are found to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.

<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>Brachypterois</i> Genus

Brachypterois is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

Phenacoscorpius, the no-lined scorpionfishes, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are native to the western Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

<i>Neomerinthe</i> Genus of fishes

Neomerinthe is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. They are found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.

The spotfin scorpionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is known from the western Indian Ocean This species is the only known member of the genus Neoscorpanea.

<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>Pteroidichthys amboinensis</i> Species of fish

Pteroidichthys amboinensis, the Ambon scorpionfish or Godfrey's scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetraroginae</span> Subfamily of fishes

Tetraroginae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes, commonly known as waspfishes or sailback scorpionfishes, belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific. As their name suggests, waspfishes are often venomous; having poison glands on their spines. They are bottom-dwelling fish, living at depths to 300 metres (980 ft). These creatures usually live in hiding places on the sea bottom.

<i>Inimicus</i> Genus of fishes

Inimicus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, it is one of two genera in the tribe Choridactylini, one of the three tribes which are classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These venomous, benthic fishes are found on sandy or silty substrates of lagoon and seaward reefs, in coastal regions of tropical oceans. The ten described species are collectively known by various common names, including ghoul, goblinfish, sea goblin, spiny devilfish, stinger, and stingfish.

<i>Plectrogenium</i> Genus of fishes

Plectrogenium, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, the stinger flatheads, the only genus classified within the subfamily Plectrogeninae, which in turn is classified within the family Scorpaenidae. This genus is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Choridactylus</i> Genus of fishes

Choridactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, it is one of two genera in the tribe Choridactylini, one of the three tribes which are classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. They are commonly known as stingfishes. They are found in the Indo-West Pacific.

Leptosynanceia is a monotypic genus of ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Synanceiinae, the stonefishes, which is classified within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and relatives, its only species is Leptosynanceia asteroblepa which is called the mangrove stonefish in Malaysia. This species native to the brackish and fresh waters of Southeast Asia. This species grows to a total length of 23 centimetres (9.1 in). This species is an extremely dangerous fish whose venom can cause a human to die within 1 to 2 hours after contact. The pain caused by the venom is described as "agonizing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfin stonefish</span> Genus of fishes

The blackfin stonefish is a species of venomous ray-finned fish, a stonefish be longing to the subfamily Synanceiinae of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. It is the only species in the monotypic genus. It is native to the western Indian Ocean where it occurs in areas with muddy bottoms. This species grows to a total length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stargazing stonefish</span> Genus of fishes

The stargazing stonefish is a species of stonefish native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it is found on muddy bottoms in estuaries. This venomous species is also a minor component of local commercial fisheries. This species grows to a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. This species is the only known member of the genus Trachicephalus.

<i>Pseudovespicula</i> Genus of fishes

Pseudovespicula is a genus of venomous ray-finned fishes, waspfishes belonging to the subfamily Tetraroginae, which is classified as part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. It has been considered to be a monotypic genus, containing only the type species, Pseudovespicula dracaena, but some authorities classify three species within the genus. The genus is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Minous monodactylus</i> Species of fish

Minous monodactylus, the grey stingfish or grey goblinfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fishes, it is the only genus in the tribe Minoini, one of the three tribes which are classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. This species found in the Indo-Pacific and is venomous to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choridactylini</span> Tribe of fishes

Choridactylini, commonly known as stingfishes, stingers or ghouls, is a tribe of venomous ray-finned fishes classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae, the stonefishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific.

References

  1. Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 001–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Synanceiidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 468–475. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6.
  4. 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2022). Species of Minous in FishBase . February 2022 version.
  5. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (10 March 2022). "Order Perciformes (Part 10): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Families Apistidae, Tetrarogidae, Synanceiidae, Aploacrinidae, Perryenidae, Eschmeyeridae, Pataceidae, Gnathanacanthidae, Congiopodidae and Zanclorhynchidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Matsunama, Mizuki; Motomura, Hiroyuki (2018-08-02). "Three new species of the Indo-Pacific stingfish genus Minous (Synanceiidae: Minoinae) with redescriptions of M. trachycephalus (Bleeker 1855) and M. pictus Günther 1880". Zootaxa. 4455 (2): 201–257. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4455.2.1. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   30314209.
  7. "アダヒメオコゼ". 沖縄美ら海水族館 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  8. 1 2 3 Eschmeyer, W. N.; Hallacher, L. E.; and Rama-Rao, K. V. (1979). "The scorpionfish genus Minous (Scorpaenidae, Monoinae) including a new species from the Indian Ocean". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 41 (20): 453–473.
  9. Mizuki Matsunuma; Sergey V. Bogorodsky; Ahmad O. Mal; Yukino Ando & Hiroyuki Motomura (2017). "Reinstatement of Minous inermis and M. trachycephalus (Synanceiidae) to the checklist of Red Sea fishes, with comments on M. monodactylus". Marine Biodiversity. doi: 10.1007/s12526-017-0716-1 .
  10. William Leo Smith; Ward C. Wheeler (2006). "Venom Evolution Widespread in Fishes: A Phylogenetic Road Map for the Bioprospecting of Piscine Venoms". Journal of Heredity. 97 (3): 206–217. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esj034 . PMID   16740627.