Sydney Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis insperatus Motomura 2004
Holotype of the Sydney Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis insperatus. Source: Mark Allen / Australian Museum. License: All rights reserved
A rare scorpionfish known only from Sydney Harbour, New South Wales. The Sydney Scorpionfish differs from other species of Scorpaenopsis in having a single spine (vs. two spines) on the upper operculum, and 30-34 scale rows along the body.
Video of the elusive Sydney Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis insperatus, under the jetty in Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales - depth 4 m.
Sydney Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis insperatus Motomura 2004
More Info
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Distribution |
Known only from Sydney Harbour, New South Wales. Inhabits coarse gravelly sandy areas. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XII, 9; Anal fin III, 5; Caudal fin 13 (principal rays); Pectoral fin 16; Pelvic fin I, 5; Gill rakers upper limb 3, lower limb (including a raker at angle) 9, rudimentary rakers on ventroanterior lower limb 3. Vertebrae 24; Longitudinal scale series 30-34; scales above lateral line 4, below 10; scales above lateral line at midbody 5-6; predorsal scale rows 2; Branchiostegal rays 7. No median interorbital ridge; well-developed interorbital ridges conjoined at anterior edge of occipital pit; upper opercular and posterior lacrimal spines simple, not divided; 30-34 longitudinal scale rows; 3 suborbital spines; fifth dorsal fin spine longest; large orbit diameter (5.4-5.6 in HL); short snout length (3.7-3.9 in HL) less than orbit diameter; narrow interorbital width (5.4-5.6 in HL) less than orbit diameter; narrow space between ventral margin of eye and suborbital ridge. |
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Similar Species |
Differs from other members of the genus Scorpaenopsis in having only a single spine on the upper operculum, and 30-34 scale rows along the body. |
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Etymology |
The specific name insperatus is derived from Latin meaning ‘‘unexpected,’’ in reference to the unexpected discovery of this new species from Sydney Harbour, a populated harbor adjacent to the Sydney metropolitan area. |
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Species Citation |
Scorpaenopsis insperatus Motomura 2004, Copeia 2004(3): . Type locality: Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, depth 14.4 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2018 |
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Resources |
Sydney Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis insperatus Motomura 2004
References
Motomura, H. 2004. Scorpaenopsis insperatus: a new species of scorpionfish from Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae). Copeia 2004(3): 546-550.
