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2344 Bony Fishes

Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829) En - Raggy scorpionfish; Fr - Lappies. Maximum standard length at least 18 cm standard length. A little-known species. Occurs inshore on reefs. Occasionally taken by hook-and-line and in trawls, but of no commercial importance. Reported from widely scattered localities from southern Africa, the Red Sea, India, Indonesia, and northwestern Australia.

Sebastapistes cyanostigma (Bleeker, 1856) En - Yellowspotted scorpionfish. Maximum standard length about 7 cm. Common in shallow water on coral reefs and hard bottoms to about 9 m. Of no commercial importance, but occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, because of its small size and coloration. Ranges from South Africa and the Red Sea eastward to Okinawa, Guadalcanal, and New Caledonia.

(from Matsubara, 1943) Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae 2345

Sebastapistes galactacma Jenkins, 1903 En - Galactacma scorpionfish. Maximum standard length 4.9 cm. Taken over coral and coral rubble in depths of 6 to 29 m. Appears to be confined to the Pacific Plate, and is known from Guam, Pohnpei, and Rapa within the area and at Hawaii outside the area.

(from Jordan and Evermann, 1903)

Sebastapistes mauritiana (Cuvier, 1829) En - Spineblotch scorpionfish; Fr - Rascasse de Suez; Sp - Rascacio de Suez. Maximum standard length about 8 cm. Typically collected in outer intertidal reef and lagoon habitats at depths of less than 10 m. Commonly taken, but of no commercial importance. Distributed from the eastern shores of Africa and the Red Sea eastward to Guam, Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands, Rapa, and the Marquesas; also reported to have passed through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean. Further study of the Hawaiian Sebastapistes ballieu (Sauvage, 1875) may prove it to be a synonym of S. mauritiana or only subspecifically distinct.

(from Matsubara, 1943) 2346 Bony Fishes

Sebastapistes strongia (Cuvier, 1829) En - Barchin scorpionfish. Maximum standard length about 6 cm. Study of the biology of this small reef-dwelling fish originally described from the Caroline Islands has been stymied by considerable confusion associated with its taxonomic identity. Further analysis may prove specimens of this variable species may perhaps belong to 2 species, which have been thoroughly confused under a variety of inconsistently used names. Often confused with Scorpaena bynoensis Richardson, 1845, which is a synonym of Parascorpaena picta. Of no commercial importance, but often caught at shallow depths over coral reefs. A wide-ranging species, commonly taken from East Africa and the Red Sea, eastward to Sri Lanka and Taiwan Province of China; occurs throughout the Indonesian Archipelago, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the Philippines to the Tuamoto Archipelago; it has traversed the Suez Canal and was reported from Cyprus.

(after Smith and Heemstra, 1986)

Sebastapistes tinkhami (Fowler, 1946) En - Darkspotted scorpionfish. Maximum standard length about 8 cm. A small relatively rare species that appears to occur on deeper reefs. Of no importance to fisheries, but occasionally appears in trawls. Care should be taken when handling it. Widely distributed. Known from South Africa eastward to the Tuamotu Archipelago, and also reported in the area from Fiji.

(after Smith and Heemstra, 1986) Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae 2347

Sebastiscus tertius Barsukov and Chen, 1978 En - Absent-minded scorpionfish. Maximum standard length 37 cm. Very closely related to Sebastiscus marmoratus and likely has similar habits, but occurs in deeper waters at depths of 70 to 500 m. A relatively large species and would make an excellent food fish as does its near relatives. Although presently no major fishery exists for this species, discovery of suitable hard-bottom habitats over which it may occur in large numbers, could make a sustainable fishery possible. Best known from southern Japan, Korea, and Taiwan Province of China, but also reported in the area from Indonesia (08°58’S, 116°34’E).

Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 En - Deepwater scorpionfish; Fr - Rascasse serran; Sp - Rascacio serrano. Maximum standard length 18 cm. No commercial fishery exists for this deep-dwelling scorpionfish, although it occurs in large numbers at some localities. Taken with bottom trawls and bottom-set long lines at depths of 170 to 576 m. Wounds from this species can be painful. The most widely-ranging scorpaenoid fish, found worldwide on continental slopes in tropical and warm-tem- perate latitudes, as well as insular localities. In the area, reported from off Sumatra, Bali, Ujung Padang, the Arafura Sea, Fiji, the Philippines, and near the Kei Islands. 2348 Bony Fishes

Setarches longimanus (Alcock, 1894) En - Redsmooth scorpionfish. Maximum standard length 18 cm. Reported from trawls fished at depths of 110 to 763 m, with most specimens taken at intermediate depths between 180 and 550 m. The spines of this species are venomous and should be avoided. Distributed from Andaman Islands in the Eastern Indian Ocean to the Philippines, north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.

(from Matsubara, 1943)

Synanceia horrida (Linnaeus, 1766) En - Estuarine stonefish. Maximum standard length 19.6 cm; may weigh up to 2 kg. Most frequently found in lagoons and reef flats, but can also be encountered in relatively muddy or rubble bottoms associated with estuaries. Used as food in subsistence fisheries and found in local markets, but extremely venomous and therefore of limited value. Capable of inflicting fatal wounds and should be handled, if at all, with extraordinary caution. Found from the eastern Indian Ocean eastward through the Indonesian Archipelago to Australia and the Philippines.

(after Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao, 1973) Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae 2349

Synanceia verrucosa Bloch and Schneider, 1801 En - Reef stonefish; Fr - Poisson-pierre. Maximum standard length 18.7 cm. Usually seen at low tide in coral rubble in pools on shallow reef flats and in lagoons, often under rocks and ledges. Can be abundant at some localities, reaching depths of about 13 m. Larger individuals appear to favour surge channels. Also capable of burying in sand. Feeds on Abudefduf leucozona, A. biocellatus, A. glaucus, Pomacentrus littoralis,and other small fishes and invertebrates. Because it is remarkably well camouflaged and exceedingly venomous, this species should be fished and handled only with extreme caution; its spines can inflict fatal wounds. Although typically feared, it is occasionally fished by spear and utilized for human consumption. A widely distributed species, known from East Africa and the Red Sea eastward to the Tuamoto Archipelago.

Taenianotus triacanthus Lacepède, 1802 En - Leaf scorpionfish; Fr - Poisson balance. Maximum standard length 7.9 cm. Typically inhabits coral beds and rocks in sublittoral and intertidal habitats in areas of strong wave action, to depths of about 78 to 134 m. Individuals will “sway” with the current, mimicking its surroundings, even in the absence of current. T. triacanthus molts, at times, shedding its skin in a nearly single piece like some snakes. A variety of strikingly different colour morphs exist, with yellow-brown and red and pink morphs being the most common. It is unknown to what extent individuals can change colours. A poor swimmer and easily caught with hand nets. Of no commercial importance, but has become a frequent but voracious aquarium fish, due to its unusual appearance and interesting behaviour. Distributed from East Africa eastward to the Galapagos Islands, where it has been photographed but not yet collected; also known from southern Japan in the north to the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef in the south.

(after Eschmeyer and Randall, 1975) 2350 Bony Fishes

Tetraroge barbata (Cuvier, 1829) En - Bearded rougefish. Maximum standard length 9.3 cm. Found in brackish water and lower fresh water reaches of shallow slow-flowing coastal drainages. Likely mimics leaf-litter. No fishery exists for this dangerous species. Distributed from Japan southward through Taiwan Province of China and the Philippines, throughout Indonesia from Southern Malaysia to the Solomon Islands; not known to occur in Australia or Fiji.

(after Munro, 1967)

Tetraroge niger (Cuvier, 1829) En - Blacksea wasp. Maximum standard length 10 cm. A little-known, highly venomous species; enters brackish and fresh water often considerable distances (16 to 42 km) from the coast. Females can be extremely fecund bearing tens of thousands of eggs. Found from India eastward, throughout the Indonesia Archipelago to Fiji; also occurs in the Philippines and northward to Taiwan Province of China and the southernmost Ryukyu Islands.

(after Weber and de Beaufort, 1962) Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae 2351

Trachicephalus uranoscopus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) En - Stargazing stonefish. Maximum standard length 8 cm. Generally caught in inshore trawls over mud bottoms in estuaries. Despite its venomosity, this small species does appear in local market catches. Occurs from India eastward through the Strait of Mallaca and northward along the coasts of Malaysia and Thailand northward to Hong Kong and southern China; also reported westward to Java, Borneo, and Amboina.

(after Eschmeyer and Rama-Rao, 1973)

Vespicula cypho (Fowler, 1938) En - Hunchbacked goblinfish. Maximum standard length 3.3 cm. A rare venomous species that may become entrapped in nets, but is of no commercial importance. Known only from a single specimen taken in the Philippines at Davao, Mindanao.

(from Fowler, 1938) 2352 Bony Fishes

Vespicula depressifrons Richardson, 1848 En - Leaf goblinfish. Maximum standard length 6 cm. A little-known species, typically found in brackish or semi-fresh waters. No fishery exists for this species, but it does appear from time to time in the aquarium trade. Found in the Nicobar Islands through the Indonesia Archipelago and the Philippines westward to Papua New Guinea, reports of this species from Japan are erroneous.

(after Weber and de Beaufort, 1962)

Vespicula trachinoides (Cuvier, 1829) En - Goblinfish. Maximum standard length 5.8 cm. Appears to be found over soft sand and broken shell bottoms. This small species is of little commercial importance, but does seem to be marketed fresh in local fisheries throughout the area. Distributed from the Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar) eastward to the Philippines and Sulawesi; known outside the area from Hainan Island, China; a single record from the Red Sea (under the synonym Apistus bottae) is likely based on a locality error.

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