| Scorpaenopsis neglecta | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: | Scorpaenopsis |
| Species: | S. neglecta |
| Binomial name | |
| Scorpaenopsis neglecta | |
Scorpaenopsis neglecta, the yellowfin scorpionfish or bandtail 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.
Scorpaenopsis neglecta was first formally described in 1837 by the Austrian ichthyologist Johann Jakob Heckel with the type locality given as the "Sea of East Indies". [3] The specific name neglecta means "neglected" or "overlooked", a reference Heckel did not explain, although he may have been suggesting that this species had previously been misidentified as S. nesogallica . [4]
Scorpaenopsis neglecta has a highly arched nap and front part of the body which leads to a humpback appearance. It has a wide space between the eyes. [5] There are 12 spines and 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin while its anal fin has 3 spines and 5 soft rays. There is a serrated ridge above the eye and the pterotic, lower posttemporal, and second suborbital spines are replaced by serrated ridges. The nuchal spine has 1 or 2 supplemental spines and the forward ridge of the lacrimal bone is serrated. [6] The pattern of this scorpion fish is made up of blotches and mottling coloured to camouflage it. There is a dark reddish band across the outer part of the tail just in from the margin, and there is frequently a yellowish patch on the operculum. The inner surface of the pectoral fin does not have any dark spots and has a black band across the upper rays near their tips with small dark spots where the pectoral fin joins the body. [7] This species reaches a maximum standard length of 19 cm (7.5 in). [6]
Scorpaenopsis neglecta has an Indo-West Pacific distribution, occurring as far west as India and Sri Lanka east to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia, [1] where it is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Wollongong in New South Wales. [7] It is found on rock and coral reefs in shallow water, [5] as well as on sand and mud substrates, at depths down to 40 m (130 ft). It is normally a solitary species. It has venom glands in its fin spines. [6]
