Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 魚 類 学 雑 誌29巻2 Vol.29,No.2 1982 号1982年

The Scorpionfish Rhino pias aphanes Eschmeyer from Australia

Zena D.Dinesen and Warwick J.Nash Received May 7,1981) (

Abstract Three specimens of the scorpaenid aphanes Eschmeyer from the central Great Barrier Reef Province constitute a new record for Australian waters and the first recorded collections outside New Caledonia.These specimens are described and compared with the holotype.Coloura- tion varies among these specimens;individuals may also change colour in captivity,and according to substratum or time of day.Shedding of "skin"(cuticle)occurs at regular intervals of as short as three days.

The holotype of Rhinopias aphanes Eschmeyer, of Marine Science,Queensland,until its death 1973,was collected outside the barrier reef off in November 1981.Two further specimens Noumea in 1964.It was originally identified (both registered as collection AMS I.22659-001, as a specimen of R.frondosa(Gunther)by here distinguished as"larger"and"smaller") Whitley(1964)and by Smith(1966).Eschmeyer were collected by C.Wallace,D.Agostino and et al.(1973)erected the species R.aphanes to G.Bull in February 1981 on the lee side of contain this specimen.This report describes Broadhurst Reef,13 km southeast of Davies three specimens collected from Australian Reef,at 6 7 m depth.These specimens were waters,with notes on colour variation,habitat, kept alive at James Cook University of North behaviour and "skin" shedding. Queensland,but died in August 1981.All three specimens have been deposited with the Genus Rhinopias Gill,1905 Australian Museum,Sydney(AMS). Rhinopias aphanes Eschmeyer,1973 Methods of measuring and counting follow (not Gunther):Whitley, Eschmeyer(1965,1969).Specimens were 1964:9,pl.2. measured with calipers following preservation. Rhinopias aphanes Eschmeyer,in Eschmeyer et al.,1973:300•`302,fig.8. Description Negative synonym:Scorpaena frondosa Gunther, Measurements and counts.Measurements and 1891:482•`483,pl.39. counts are listed alongside those for the holotype The living holotype is shown in Fourmanoir in Table 1,specimen AMS I.22660-001 is shown and Laboute(1976).Conde(1976)and Catala in Fig.1.When measurements are compared (1979)have figured both this specimen and a in terms of percent standard length,the holotype second example,collected in the same locality and the three Australian specimens are consistent in 1973.Fourmanoir(1976)described 3 juvenile in most characters.Head length,snout length, specimens of a Rhinopias species collected by jaw length and predorsal fin length are propor- midwater trawl near New Caledonia,and sug- tionally somewhat greater in the holotype than gested these might be young R.aphanes.These in the Australian specimens.The smallest are the only published records of this species. example(AMS I.22659-001,smaller)is of similar proportions to the larger specimens, Materials and methods except for its fins which are proportionally larger. Specimen 1(AMS I.22660-001)was collected In scorpaenids,the number of pectoral rays by the authors on 19.XII.1980 on the lee side which are branched increases with the size of of Davies Reef,central Great Barrier Reef the fish(Eschmeyer et al.,1973).This is ex- (18•‹51'S,147•‹38'E),at 11m depth.It was emplified in R.aphanes:the smallest specimen kept in the aquarium at the Australian Institute (AMS I.22659-001,smaller)has no branched

―179― 魚類学雑誌 Japan.J.Ichthyol.29(2),1982 pectoral rays,but specimen AMS I.22660-001 has AMS I.22659-001(larger)had a pale yellowish- pectoral rays 1 through 7 branched(LHS)and brown background,with dark brown or black 2 through 7 branched(RHS).Specimen AMS lines enclosing variegated,pale yellow"islets". I.22659-001(larger)has pectoral rays 1 through Specimen AMS I.22659-001(smaller)had a pale 7 branched(LHS)and 1 through 8 branched brownish-grey background tinged with green, (RHS),and the holotype has pectoral rays 1 marked with black lines encircling very pale or 2 through 6 branched.The smallest speci- grey"islets".In formalin,specimen AMS I. men has unbranched caudal rays,whereas the 22660-001 has pale purple background and larger Australian specimens have most or all "islets" with dark grey lines,but both specii-nens of the 13 caudal rays branched.(On specimen AMS I.22659-001 have off-white background AMS I.22660-001,caudal rays 2 through 13 and"islets" marked with grey lines. are branched;on specimen AMS I.22659-001 All specimens have black spots on the soft (larger),all caudal rays are branched.) dorsal fin.In the holotype this was described Colouration.Colouration in all specimens as a single spot between soft dorsal rays 7 to 9 follows the same basic pattern.The fish are (Eschmeyer et al.,1973),but in Australian marked with irregular dark lines which enclose specimens a distinct pair of spots occurs between elongate areas or "islets" somewhat paler than soft dorsal rays 6 to 8.In living R.aphanes the general background colouration.Specimen there is a white spot below the eye,which is AMS I.22660-001 had(when living)a yellowish- found also in some other scorpaenids(see green background with brownish-black lines Conde,1976).Other smaller white spots are enclosing greyish coloured"islets".Specimen present,especially in front of the pectoral fin.

Table 1.Counts and measurements for specimens of Rhinopias aphanes,and comparison of ranges of measurements with R.frondosa.(Measurements in mm;figures in parentheses,and measurements in last two columns(except total and standard lengths)are percent standard length.)

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Fig.I.Above:Rhinopias.aphanes Eschmeyer,specimen AMS 1.22660 -001,in the aquarium at the Austral ian Institute of Marine Science.Below:Close-up view of the same specimen . -

Transparent elongate areas between the northeast side of Lizard Island(14•‹38'S,

pectoral fin rays occur in a row about mid-way 145•‹27'E),at 5m depth,appeared greener along the pectoral fins with,distally,a more than other Australian specimens.The smallest

irregular array of smaller,subcircular trans- specimen also had,when living,more patches of

parent areas.The caudal fin also has transparent white than other examples,notably along the

sections;other fins have small,less regularly base of the dorsal fin,distally on the soft dorsal distributed transparent areas. fin,and on the pectoral,caudal and anal fins.

There is some variation in colouration. However,the patterns of"islets"and dark lines

Photographs of the holotype(Conde,1976; are similar in all specimens,and these remain

Fourmanoir and Laboute,1976;Catala,1979) distinct in preservation. show that the dark lines surrounding the"islets" Two of the Australian specimens became paler are thicker and darker than in Australian speci- in colour following capture.After a few days mens.Furthermore,Australian specimens had in captivity,specimen AMS 1.22659-001 (when alive)a somewhat paler general coloura- (smaller)changed from green to pale grey. tion than the holotype.A further specimen, After several weeks in the aquarium,the back- observed by the authors on 4.VII.1977,on the ground colouration of specimen AMS I.22660-

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001,originally distinctly green,became a much Distribution lighter green.This fish also showed a rapid and reversible change in hue according to its sur- The recent collections of Rhinopias aphanes roundings.When placed in a bare aquarium extend the known range of this species from it became paler,but darkened immediately New Caledonia to Australia.A further speci- when transferred to an aquarium containing men was observed recently at Madang,New sand and corals.In Australian specimens,the Guinea,by Dr.P.Hutchings,at 3 m depth(R. intensity of the colour of the black spots on the Steene,pers.comm.).The distribution of the soft dorsal fin and the white spot on the cheek species appears restricted to reefs of the western also varied.Specimens AMS I.22660-001 and Pacific. I.22659-001(larger)were observed to change Habitat colour at night.The greenish or yellowish colour became much lighter,almost white,and Australian specimens have been observed and the dark lines became more prominent.Change collected from hard substrate reef areas,30km in colouration has been reported in R.esch- or more off the mainland coast.Collection meyeri(Conde,1977). localities in Australia and New Caledonia sug- The second specimen of R.aphanes collected gest a preference for clear water reef areas.The from New Caledonia differs from other speci- species seems to prefer lying under ledges or in mens in having a distinct brown-pink colouration small niches in the reef.Although this fish is (Catala,1979:figs.142 N 145).This specimen undoubtedly rare,its excellent camouflage, appears to be a distinctly different colourmorph. cryptic behaviour(see below)and habitat have Dermal appendages.Highly ramose,antler- surely contributed to the lack of records. like projections above the eyes are present in all The bathymetric range for the Great Barrier known specimens.These are more ramose in Reef is 5 m to 11 m,but New Caledonian speci- the larger examples(there are 40 tips on a single mens were collected at 30 m(Eschmeyer et al., "antler"in specimen AMS I.22659-001(larger)). 1973; Conde,1976).

In Australian specimens,branched appendages Behaviour are found on the maxilla(one large pair);on the upper and lower jaw and the snout;and Behaviour was observed in Australian speci- distally on most or all of the dorsal spines,these mens(principally specimen AMS I.22660-001), dorsal appendages being most highly branched both in the natural habitat and in an aquarium. on the third and fourth dorsal spines.Simple, Rhinopias aphanes is generally reluctant to unbranched tentacles occur in a row along the leave the bottom,even when capturing prey. lateral line and scattered sparsely over the body; It rarely swims,usually preferring to"walk"or "hop"along with the aid of its pelvic and es- between and behind the orbits;on the snout and upper and lower jaw;around the edge of pecially its pectoral fins(although the smallest the operculum; one or more pairs on the dorsal specimen showed more swimming activity than spines;and sparsely over the pectoral and the others).Individuals are more active at caudal fins.No appendages are present on the night.When resting,the fish lies on the bottom, pelvic,anal and soft dorsal fins.All appendages rocking gently back and forth and from side to were,in living specimens,black or blackish, side.Water expelled through the branchial bordered by a greenish,yellowish or greyish- tubes above the opercula causes the tentacles white colour,according to the general body on the first few dorsal fin rays to quiver.This colouration.Dermal appendages are very behaviour enhances its camouflage,and the fish similar in the New Caledonian specimens(see resembles algae or benthic fauna waving in the Catala,1979:figs.141•`142,144•`145).How- current.Specimen AMS I.22660-001 was ever,appendages around the jaw are more ramose found next to a large crinoid of similar coloura- in the New Caledonian examples,and the tion. holotype has simple tentacles on the soft dorsal Rhinopias aphanes feeds on small,active fish. fin. Even starved individuals show interest only in prey fish which have recently been placed in the

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aquarium(Once prey items have been resident some anal and dorsal spines. in the tank for more than a few hours,R(aphanes Moreover,the two species are clearly dis- shows no further interest in them as potential tinguished by their colouration and markings prey (see Eschmeyer et al.,1973;Conde,1976,1977) . When a prey fish is placed in the aquarium,R Despite some variation. in colouration and dermal aphanes may move slowly or"hop"briskly. appendages within R.frondosa,its markings towards the prey.It may immediately capture consist of rounded spots and blotches quite the prey,but generally stalks the prey slowly, unlike the markings of R.aphanes.The tentacles creeping forward on its pectoral and pelvic fins( above the eyes in R.frondosa are thicker and The actual capture of the prey is extremely less branched than in R.aphanes.We agree swift.The Rhinopias darts forward,rapidly with Eschmeyer et al.((1973)that such a change opens its mouth,and engulfs the prey by suction. in colour pattern with growth seems unlikely, and that R.frondosa is not a juvenile form of R Shedding of"skin" aphanes(The close resemblance of the smallest. Shedding of"skin",or more correctly,cuticle, R.aphanes specimen to adult specimens confirms has been recorded in various fish species,in- this. cluding scorpaenids,by several earlier workers Conde,1977 closely (see Eschmeyer et al.,1973).It has been noted resembles R.aphanes and R.frondosa in terms in Rhinopias and was apparent on the holotype of pectoral ray counts,length of dorsal rays, of R.aphanes(Eschmeyer et al.,1973) and the presence of black spots on the soft dorsal Specimen AMS I.22660-001 shed its"skin" fin(However,R.eschmeyeri has unbranched periodically following capture,usually at inter- spatulate dermal appendages,and the body vals of one week or less,sometimes as often as colour is more uniform(Masuda et al((1975: three days.The process of shedding the whitish, figs(143A•`C)showed three figures of R almost transparent,tissue-like cuticle lasts only frondosa as colour variations.We believe that. a few minutes.The Rhinopias exhales rapidly the third figure(Fig.143C)more closely resem- and vigorously,gradually inflating the covering bles R.eschmeyeri than R.frondosa. of cuticle.Soon the entire coating is blown up, almost like a small balloon,and becomes se- Acknowledgments parated from the body of the fish except at the We thank Dr.W.Eschmeyer for providing extremities.The fish then shakes itself very the references by Conde(1976,1977).We are vigorously and the cuticle breaks away and very grateful to Dr.C.Wallace for allowing us is flung off in many pieces. to examine the specimens from Broadhurst Reef.The first specimen of Rhinopias aphanes Affinities collected in Australian waters was found during Rhinopias aphanes most closely resembles R a research trip conducted by the Australian frondosa Gunther,but the holotype of R.aphanes. Institute of Marine Science.Mr.J.Collingwood has a smaller orbit,longer snout and jaw,longer kindly collected prey fish to feed this specimen. predorsal fin length,shorter caudal fin and some shorter fin spines(Eschmeyer et al.,1973). Literature cited

The ranges of measurements of the two species Catala, R. 1979. Offrandes de la mer. Recifs et are compared in Table 1.With additional R lagon de Nouvelle-Caledonie. Les Editions du aphanes specimens,morphometric differences. Pacifique, Papeete, Tahiti, 336 pp., 160 figs. between these species no longer exist.However, Conde, B. 1976. Une remarquable Scorpene de 'Ocean indien l the juvenile R.aphanes,specimen AMS I.22659- . Rev. Fr. Aquariol., 3e annee, 2 (2): 001(smaller),a much smaller specimen,has 55•`58, figs. 1•`5. proportionally larger orbit diameter and fin Conde, B. 1977. Nouvelles observations sur les lengths than adult specimens of the species. Scorpenides du genre Rhinopias a Maurice. Rev . Fr. Aquariol., 4e annee, 1 (1): 19•`20, figs. 1•`3. If this juvenile is omitted from the comparisons, Eschmeyer, W. N. 1965. Western Atlantic scor- then R.aphanes still differs from R.frondosa in pionfishes of the genus Scorpaena, including four orbit diameter,caudal fin length and length of new species. Bull. Mar. Sci., 15: 84•`164, figs . 1•`—

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12. versity Press, Tokyo, 379 pp. Eschmeyer, W. N. 1969. A systematic review of Smith, J. L. B. 1966. Certain rare fishes from

the scorpionfishes of the Atlantic Ocean (Pisces: South Africa with other notes. Occ. Pap. Dept. ). Occ. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci., (79): Ichthyol. Rhodes Univ., (7): 65•`80, pls. 13•`14. 130 pp., figs. 1•`13.

Eschmeyer, W. N., Y. Hirosaki and T. Abe. 1973. (Z. D. D.: Australian Institute of Marine Science, Two new species of the scorpionfish genus P. M. B. No. 3, M. S. O., Townsville, Queensland 4810,

Rhinopias, with comments on related genera and Australia; W. J. N.: Department of Marine Biology, species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 39 (16): 285•` School of Biological Sciences, James Cook Uni-

310, figs. 1•`10. versity of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland Fourmanoir, P. 1976. Formes post-larvaires et 4811, Australia)

juveniles de poissons cOtiers pris au chalut pelagique dans le sud-ouest Pacifique. Cah. オ ー ス ト ラ リ ア か ら 採 集 さ れ た ボ ロ カ サ ゴ 属 Pacif., 19: 47•`88. .Rbnopias aphanes Fourmanoir, P. and P. Laboute. 1976. Poissons Zena D.Dinesen・Warwick J. Nash

de Nouvelle Calódonie et des Nouvelles Hebrides. カ サ ゴ 科 ボ ロ カ サ ゴ 属 のRbnopias aphanesが3個 Les Editions du Pacifique, Papeete, Tahiti, 376 pp. 体,オ ー ス トラ リ ア の グ レ ー トバ リ ア ー リ ー フ 中 部 で

Giinther, A. 1891. Description of a remarkable 得 ら れ た.こ の 種 類 は,従 来 ニ ュ ー カ レ ドニ ア 産 の 完 fish from Mauritius, belonging to the genus 模 式 標 本 の み が 知 られ て い た.個 体 間 の 色 彩 変 異 が 大

Scorpaena. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1891: 482•` き く,又 同 一 個 体 で も,飼 育 環 境 の 変 化 に よ り体 色 が 483, pl. 39. 変 化 し た.こ の 属 の 他 種 で も 知 られ て い る が,三 日 以 Masuda, H., C. Araga and T. Yoshiro. 1975. 内 毎 に,こ の 種 類 で も"脱 皮"が 観 察 さ れ た.

Coastal fishes of southern Japan. Tokai Uni-

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