Scorpaenopsis papuensis

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Scorpaenopsis papuensis
Papuan Scorpionfish, Bunaken Island.jpg
Papuan scorpionfish at Bunaken, North Sulawesi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Scorpaenopsis
Species:
S. papuensis
Binomial name
Scorpaenopsis papuensis
(G. Cuvier, 1829)
Synonyms [2]
  • Scorpaena papuensisCuvier, 1829

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Scorpaenopsis papusensis was first formally described as Scorpaena papuensis in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as New Guinea. [3] The specific name is the suffix -ensis added to Papua, another name for New Guinea, indicating the type locality. [4]

Description

Scorpaenopsis papuensis has 12 spines and 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin and 3 spines and 5 soft rays in its anal fin. The length of the snout is greater than the orbital diameter. There is a dark purplish blotch on the rear of the spiny part of the dorsal fin. Juveniles have large, forward pointing tentacles over the eyes. [2] The basic colour is mottled reddish brown on the body and fins. It has tentacles and skin flaps on the jaw and chin. It is able to change the colour of its body to enhance its camouflage compared to substrate it rests on. [5] The maximum published total length reached by the Papuan scorpionfish is 25 cm (9.8 in). [2] This species may be distinguished from the similar raggy scorpionfish ( Scorpaenopsis venosa ) by having a flattened intraorbital space with no occipital pit. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Scorpaenopsis papuensis is found in the Indo-West Pacific from western Indonesia to French Polynesia, north as far as the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. [1] In Australian waters this species is found at Houtman Abrolhos north to the bortwest of Port Hedland in Western Australia, on the Cartier Reef in the Timor Sea, and off the far northern Great Barrier Reef to Holmes Reef in the Coral Sea, as well as at Middleton Reef in the Tasman Sea. [6] It is found at depths of between 1 and 40 m (3 ft 3 in and 131 ft 3 in) in coral and rocky areas and also in sandy coastal slopes, estuaries and lagoons, frequently found in rubble areas covered in algae. [2] [1]

Biology

Scorpaenopsis papuensis is a solitary, cryptic species which is an ambush predator of fishes, [2] waiting for prey to approach near enough to be engulfed by its mouth and eaten. [5] The Papuan scorpionfish exhibits biofluorescence, that is, when illuminated by blue or ultraviolet light, it re-emits it as red, and appears differently than under white light illumination. Biofluorescence may assist in intraspecific communication and camouflage. [7]

Biofluorescence of Scorpaenopsis papuensis at night at the Solomon Islands. The fish (circled) is blending with a red-fluorescing algae Scorpaenopsis papuensis biofluorescence.jpg
Biofluorescence of Scorpaenopsis papuensis at night at the Solomon Islands. The fish (circled) is blending with a red-fluorescing algae

Utilisation

Scorpaenopsis papuensis occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. [5]

Related Research Articles

<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>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.

<i>Taenianotus</i> Species of fish

Taenianotus is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. Its only species is Taenianotus triacanthus, the leaf scorpionfish, paperfish, paper scorpionfish, sailfin leaffish or threespine scorpionfish. This taxon has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

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

The decoy scorpionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is native to the Western Indian and Pacific oceans. A non-migratory species, I. signifer can be observed in close association with coral reefs at depths of from 10 to 70 metres. This species grows to a length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) TL. This species is the only known member of its genus and can be distinguished by its unique prey-luring behavior.

<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.

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

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.

<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.

Poss's scorpionfish is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<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>Scorpaenopsis neglecta</i> Species of fish

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.

<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.

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

Scorpaenopsis diabolus, the false stonefish, false scorpionfish or the devil scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It has venomous spines and lives in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in the Red Sea. It is a bottom-dwelling predator that relies on its camouflage to catch passing prey.

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

Scorpaenopsis barbata, the bearded scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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

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.

<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.

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

The humpbacked scorpionfish is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). "Scorpaenopsis papuensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T69919036A70009990. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69919036A70009990.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (-2021). "Scorpaenopsis papuensis" in FishBase. August -2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Scorpaenopsis". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  4. ↑ 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 20 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Bob Goemans (2012). "Scorpaenopsis papuensis (Cuvier, 1829) Papuan Scorpionfish". Saltcorner Fish Library. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Scorpaenopsis papuensis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  7. ↑ Sparks, John S.; Schelly, Robert C.; Smith, W. Leo; Davis, Matthew P.; Tchernov, Dan; Pieribone, Vincent A.; Gruber, David F. (2014). "The Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence: A Phylogenetically Widespread and Phenotypically Variable Phenomenon". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e83259. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083259 . PMC   3885428 . PMID   24421880.
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