Weedy Scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa (Günther 1892)
Other Names: Popeyed Scorpionfish
Weedy Scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) may be a junior synonym of Rhinopias frondosa as both forms are often seen together. This seems to be backed up by video footage showing the paddle-flap and weedy forms of Rhinopias mating at Alor in Indonesia. Perhaps they are male and female of the same species.
Rhinopias 'paddle-flap' and 'weedy' forms mating at Alor, Indonesia.
Closeup footage of Rhinopias 'paddle-flap' and 'weedy' forms at Ambon, Indonesia.
Rhinopias 'paddle-flap' and 'weedy' forms mating at Alor, Indonesia.
Closeup footage of Rhinopias 'paddle-flap' and 'weedy' forms at Ambon, Indonesia.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Rhinopias frondosa in Fishes of Australia, accessed 03 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2114
Weedy Scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa (Günther 1892)
More Info
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Distribution |
Trawled off Point Cartwright, southern Queensland. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indo-west Pacific, from East and South Africa, eastward to Sri Lanka and the Caroline Islands, north to southern Japan and Vietnam, and south to Australia. Inhabits rocky and coralline areas, often amongst macroalgae, or sponges in deeper waters. |
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Feeding |
A nocturnal predator, feeding on small fishes and small invertebrates. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2018 |
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Resources |
Weedy Scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa (Günther 1892)
References
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.
Eschmeyer, W.N. in Eschmeyer, W.N., Hirosaki Y. & Abe, T. 1973. Two new species of the scorpionfish genus Rhinopias, with comments on related genera and species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 39(16): 285-310 figs 1-10
Gill, T.N. 1905. Note on the genera of synanceine and pelorine fishes. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 28(1394): 221-225 1 fig.
Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. 1984. Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwest Australia. Jakarta : Dir. Gen. Fish. (Indonesia), German Tech. Coop., Aust. Dev. Ass. Bur. 406 pp.
Günther, A. 1892. Description of a remarkable fish from Mauritius, belonging to the genus Scorpaena. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1891: 482-483, pl. 39
Kuiter, R.H. & Tonozuka, T. 2001. Indonesian Reef Fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Australia : Zoonetics pp. 1-302.
Motomura, H., Béarez, P. & Causse, R. 2011. Review of Indo-Pacific specimens of the subfamily Scorpaeninae (Scorpaenidae), deposited in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, with description of a new species of Neomerinthe. Cybium 33(1): 55-73
Motomura, H. & Johnson, J.W. 2006. Validity of the poorly known scorpionfish, Rhinopias eschmeyeri, with redescriptions of R. frondosa and R. aphanes (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae). Copeia 2006(3): 500-515
Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. 2016. Rhinopias frondosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T69800391A69801052. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69800391A69801052.en. Downloaded on 28 June 2018.
Poss, S.G. 1999. Families Scorpaenidae, Caracanthidae, Aploactinidae. pp. 2291-2358 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.
