Tropical Single-spined Scorpionfish, Sebastapistes monospina Cabebe-Barnuevo & Motomura 2025
Sebastapistes monospina (BPBM 38876), freshly collected holotype from off Phillip Point, Lord Howe Island, February 1973. Source: John E. Randall, Fig 1a, in Cabebe-Barnuevo & Motomura (2025) Ichthyological Research. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
A red scorpionfish becoming somewhat paler below, scattered with irregular white blotches and mottling, a mostly red dorsal fin with white streaks on the spinous portion and faint white bands on the soft dorsal fin, red pectoral fins with white blotches concentrated on the base, mostly white pelvic fins with reddish bands, and a mostly red caudal fin with distinct white stripes giving a banded appearance.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Sebastapistes monospina in Fishes of Australia, accessed 03 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5761
Tropical Single-spined Scorpionfish, Sebastapistes monospina Cabebe-Barnuevo & Motomura 2025
More Info
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Distribution |
Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in the south-west-central Pacific: known from the Austral Islands (French Polynesia) and the Pitcairn Islands. Inhabits shallow coral and rocky reefs at depths to 27 m. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XII, 9; Anal fin III, 5; Pectoral fin 15-16; Lateral line, pored scales 22-23;Scale rows in longitudinal series 44-46; Scale rows above lateral line 5-6; Scale rows below lateral line 10-11; Scale rows between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5-6; Scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5-6; Predorsal scale rows 4-5; Gill rakers 4-5 + 10-11 = 14-16. Body depth at base of pelvic-fin spine 32.7-36.7% SL; anterior and posterior lacrimal spines simple, no accessory spines; lateral lacrimal ridge and spine absent; first and second suborbital ridges fused, forming a single ridge terminating in a single suborbital spine; palatine teeth present; upper-jaw teeth villiform, with canine-like teeth anteriorly; lower-jaw teeth villiform, with canine-like teeth (less pronounced in smaller specimens) well distributed and extending to posterior region. Body scales mostly cycloid (rarely with weak ctenii); space between upper and lower opercular spines not covered with scales; interorbital ridges poorly developed, a shallow channel between ridges; coronal spines absent. |
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Colour |
Fresh coloration: Body predominantly red, with irregular white blotches scattered overall. Underside of head mainly white with diffuse reddish patches. Dorsal-fin spines red with white streaks; soft rays in posterior region of dorsal fin translucent red with faint white vertical bands. Anal-fin spines and rays similar to dorsal fin, with red coloration along fins and faint whitish streaks. Pectoral fins primarily red, with white blotches concentrated on base. Pelvic fins predominantly white, with reddish hue. Caudal fin predominantly red, with distinct white stripes giving a banded appearance. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin mono (= single) and spina (= spine), in reference to the single suborbital spine in the species. |
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Species Citation |
Sebastapistes monostigma Cabebe-Barnuevo & Motomura 2025, Ichthyological Research: 2, Figs. 1-2. Type locality: Off Phillip Point, Lord Howe Island, Australia, 20-27 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Tropical Single-spined Scorpionfish, Sebastapistes monospina Cabebe-Barnuevo & Motomura 2025
References
Cabebe-Barnuevo, R. & Motomura, H. 2025. Sebastapistes monospina, a new species of scorpionfish (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) from the South Pacific Ocean. Ichthyological Research First online: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-025-01020-3
