Sebastapistes taeniophrys (Fowler 1943): a valid scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) from the Philippines

Abstract

The poorly known scorpionfish, Scorpaena taeniophrys, originally described from two specimens from the Philippines, is redescribed as a valid species of Sebastapistes. Sebastapistes taeniophrys differs from all other congeners in having a combination of 15 pectoral-fin rays, 31-33 scale rows in longitudinal series, 11-14 pored lateral-line scales, 3 predorsal scale rows, 12 gill rakers, 3 suborbital spines, absence of coronal spines, lower opercular spine with a median ridge and not covered with scales, ctenoid body scales, several dark transverse bands on ventral surface of mandible, a distinct elongate black blotch distally between the second or third and seventh dorsal-fin spines, and no black blotch on the nape.

Sebastapistes perplexa, a New Species of Scorpionfish (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) from Japan

“…The males of some species of Scorpaenidae, e.g., Parascorpaena moultoni (Whitley, 1961) and several species of Scorpaenopsis, are known to possess a large black blotch on the membrane of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin (e.g., Poss 1999;Randall and Eschmeyer 2002;Motomura et al 2005c). Some species, e.g., Scorpaena bergi Evermann andMarsh, 1900 andScorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957, have a black blotch in both sexes whereas others, e.g., Parascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855) and Sebastapistes strongia, lack a blotch in either sex (Eschmeyer 1965;Poss 1999;Motomura 2009). In Sebastapistes perplexa, only males have a dark blotch on the membranes between the sixth and tenth spines of the dorsal fin.…”

“…However, in addition to the above-mentioned suborbital ridge feature, S. perplexa can be easily distinguished from S. strongia by its having one suborbital spine (vs usually two, rarely three spines in S. strongia) and modally 14 pectoral-fin rays (vs 15 rays; see Motomura 2009: table 2). While the nape between the anterior four dorsal-fin spine bases and the upper opercular margin of S. strongia usually has a poorly defined blackish blotch (Motomura 2009), S. perplexa lacks such a blotch. The blackish blotch on the subopercle and pectoral-fin base of S. perplexa is not found in S. strongia.…”

“…The Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Sebastapistes Gill in Streets, 1877 is characterized by having 12 dorsal-fin spines, teeth on the palatines, the posterior lacrimal spine directed posteroventrally, and pored lateral-line scales continuing onto the caudal-fin base, and by the lack of a deep occipital pit (Poss 1999;Motomura 2009). Some species of the deepwater scorpionfish genus Neomerinthe Fowler, 1935 share these characters with Sebastapistes, but can be distinguished from the latter by the head squamation and spines, some meristics, and habitat depths.…”