Pteroidichthys amboinensis

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Pteroidichthys amboinensis
Pteroidichthys amboinensis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Pteroidichthys
Species:
P. amboinensis
Binomial name
Pteroidichthys amboinensis
Bleeker, 1856
Synonyms [2]
  • Rhinopias godfreyi Whitley, 1954
  • Pteroidichthys godfreyi(Whitley, 1954)

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.

Taxonomy

Pteroidichthys amboinensis was first formally described in 1856 by the Dutch herpetologist, ichthyologist and physician Pieter Bleeker with the type localities give as Ambon Island in the Moluccas and Manodo on Sulawesi. [3] When Bleeker described this species he classified it in a new genus, Pteroidichthys , as the only species in the new genus making it the type species of that genus by monotypy. In 1954 the Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley described a new species as Rhinopias godfreyi from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia [4] but this taxon is now considered to be a junior synonym of P. amboinensis, [5] however, this species is still called Godfrey's scorpionfish in Australia. [6] The specific name refers to the type locality of Ambon Island. [7]

Description

Pteroidichthys amboinensis has the elongate, compressed body typical of the genus Pteroidichthys. [8] This species has 12 flexible spines and 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin and 2 spines and 6 soft rays in its anal fin. It has a relatively short snout which is on average around 14% of its standard length. The rear margin of the maxilla extends past a vertical line through the centre of the pupil. There are supraorbital tentacles and the posterior lacrimal spines are well developed, being longer than the diameter of the orbit. There are many tentacles on the body and the fins. The lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines are indistinct, normally being very small spines and frequently being blunt, bony protuberances. There is no clear black blotch on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. [6] These fish sometimes have a mottled blackish and reddish colour, but they can make wide changes to their colour and pattern. [9] | This species attains a maximum known total length of 12 cm (4.7 in). [2]

Ambon scorpionfish near Alor Island, Indonesia Ambon scorpionfish JRM.jpg
Ambon scorpionfish near Alor Island, Indonesia

Distribution and habitat

Pteroidichthys amboinensis is found in the Red Sea, [10] through the Indian Oceamnand into the western Pacific Ocean as far east as Fiji, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. [1] This is a demersal fish which is found at depths between 7 and 43 m (23 and 141 ft), [5] over soft substrates and among algae. [2]

Biology

Pteroidichthys amboinensis is a solitary ambush predator which is camouflaged to blend in to its habitat, [2] feeding on crustaceans and small fish. [11] This fish has venom bearing spines and the venom is highly toxic and, in some circumstances, invenomation can be fatal to humans. [12]

Utilisation

Pteroidichthys amboinensis is a popular species in the aquarium trade but it is rare and as a result commands high prices. [1]

Related Research Articles

<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>Sebastapistes</i> Genus of fishes

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

<i>Scorpaenopsis</i> Genus of fishes

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

<i>Pteroidichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Pteroidichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<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>Parascorpaena</i> Genus of fishes

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

<i>Parapterois</i> Genus of fishes

Parapterois is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. These fish originate from marine environments in the Indian Ocean or near it. The venomous Parapterois heterura is occasionally seen as an aquarium fish.

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

Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus, the tasseled scorpionfish, or small-scaled scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the largest species in its genus.

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>Parascorpaena picta</i> Species of fish

Parascorpaena picta, the northern scorpionfish, painted scorpionfish or marbled rock cod 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 western Pacific Ocean. This species grows to a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) TL.

<i>Rhinopias eschmeyeri</i> Species of fish

Rhinopias eschmeyeri or Eschmeyer's scorpionfish or paddle-flap scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific. It grows to an average size of 16.6 cm in length. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. Although some have raised questions as to whether R. eschmeyeri is a morphological variant of Rhinopias frondosa rather than a separate species, a 2006 study by Motomura and Johnson confirmed the species' existence and distinguished it from other members of the genus Rhinopias.

<i>Rhinopias aphanes</i> Species of fish

Rhinopias aphanes, the lacy scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish or Merlet's scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flasher scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

The flasher scorpionfish, or rough humpback scorpionfish is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Sebastapistes cyanostigma</i> Species of fish

Sebastapistes cyanostigma, the yellowspotted scorpionfish, coral scorpionfish or pink and yellow scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to 10 cm in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barchin scorpionfish</span> 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>Pteroidichthys noronhai</i> Species of fish

Pteroidichthys noronhai, Noronha’s scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the central western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Lythrichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Lythrichthys, the red deepwater scorpionfishes, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the subfamily Setarchinae, the deep-sea bristly scorpionfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. They are native to the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Rhinopias xenops</i> Species of fish

Rhinopias xenops, the strange-eyed scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). "Pteroidichthys amboinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T69798967A69801012. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69798967A69801012.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Pteroidichthys amboinensis" in FishBase. August 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pteroidichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Scorpaenidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 Motomura, H. & Kanade, Y. (2015). "Review of the scorpionfish genus Pteroidichthys (Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species". Zootaxa. 4057 (4): 490–510. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4057.4.2.
  6. 1 2 Dianne J. Bray. "Pteroidichthys amboinensis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ↑ 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 26 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Dianne J. Bray. "Pteroidichthys". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Bob Goemans (2012). "Pteroidichthys amboinensis". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans.
  10. ↑ Fricke, Ronald; Golani, Daniel & Appelbaum-Golani, Brenda (2015). "Confirmed record of the Ambon scorpionfish, Pteroidichthys amboinensis from the Red Sea (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae)". Marine Biodiversity Records. 8 (e113). doi:10.1017/S1755267215000949.
  11. ↑ "Ambon Scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis)". whatsthatfish.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pteroidichthys amboinensis Ambon scorpionfish". Reeflex.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
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