| Pterois paucispinula | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: | Pterois |
| Species: | P. paucispinula |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterois paucispinula | |
Pterois paucispinula 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. [2]
Pterois paucispinula was first formally described in 2015 by the Japanese ichthyologists Mizuki Matsunuma and Hiroyuki Motomura with the type locality given as Kashiwa-jima Island in Kōchi Prefecture in southern Japan. [3] P. paucispinula had been regarded as the eastern population of the frillfin lionfish ( P.mombasae ). [4] The specific name paucispinula is a compound of paucus, meaning “few”, and spinula, which means “small thorn”, an allusion to the smaller number of small spines on the ctenoid scales of the head and body in comparison with P. mombasae. [5]
Pterois paucispinula has 13 spines and 10, rarely 11, soft rays in its dorsal fin and 3 spines and 6 soft rays in its anal fin. There are between 17 and 19 rays in the pectoral fins, the most common count being 18. [2] The overall colour is pinkish creamy-white or white. There is a wide white-edged reddish-black to black band running through the eye with a sizeable black blotch on the lower part of the operculum. There are 3 bands on the nape, the flanks have many wide reddish-brown to light brown bands, with thin narrow bands between them, and these reach just onto the dorsal and anal fins. There is a relatively large black blotch, which has small white spot within it, over the base of the pectoral-fin. The spiny part of the dorsal fin has 2–6 reddish-brown to blackish bands while the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin, as well as the anal and caudal fins have numerous small black spots on their membranes,. The pectoral fin has 14 to 28 large reddish-black to black blotches on it. [6] This species attains a maximum published standard length of 14.4 cm (5.7 in). [2]
P. paucispinula differs from P. mombasae by, among other things, having a body which is not as deep, a narrower head and slightly more scale rows below the lateral line. It also typically has 18 pectoral-fin rays whereas the western populations of P. mombasae typically have 19, it also has comparatively longer spines in the dorsal fin. However, a Sri Lankan population of P. mombasae is more similar to P. paucispinula in that they usually have 18 pectoral-fin rays and longer dorsal fin spines, these differences between different populations of P. mombasae are considered to be geographical variations within the species. A consistently differing feature is that both young and adult P. mombasae have ctenoid scales on the base of the pectoral fin, the part of the body below the lateral line and on the side of the caudal peduncle. In P. paucispinula these areas typically only have only cycloid or at most a few ctenoid scales. [4]
Pterois paucispinula is found in the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs from Indonesia in the west and as far Wallis And Futuna Islands in the east, extending north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia. [1] In Australian waters it is known from the Northwest Shelf of Western Australia to the Timor Sea off the northwest of Melville Island in the Northern Territory. [6] This species is found at depths between 1 and 440 m (3 ft 3 in and 1,443 ft 7 in) [2] where it is typically found in area of soft-bottom or muddy substrates mixed with rubble areas where there is dense growth of sessile invertebrates, particularly sponges. [6]
Pterois paucispinula is normally encountered in small groups or as solitary fish. [1]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brachypterois serrulata, the sawcheek scorpionfish or pygmy lionfish, is a species of scorpionfish native to the northwestern 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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The western scorpionfish, also known as the neglected scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
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.
The Luna lionfish, the dragon's beard fish or Japanese lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, which consists of scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Parascorpaena aurita, the golden scorpionfish or byno 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 western Pacific Ocean.
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.
