Abstract
A new species of small-sized scorpionfish, Scorpaena bulacephala, is described on the basis of seven specimens collected from off Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, northern Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific Ocean, at depths of 86–113 m. The new species is closely related to a Hawaiian endemic species, S. colorata. The two species are distinguished from other Indo–Pacific species of Scorpaena by the following combination of characters: exposed cycloid scales covering the anteroventral surface of the body and pectoral-fin base, the lateral surface of the lacrimal without spines, and 17 pectoral-fin rays. The new species differs from S. colorata in having 39–44 longitudinal scales rows and relatively short fin spines and rays, especially short longest pectoral-fin ray (31.5–33.5% of standard length). Morphological changes with growth and sexual dimorphism of the new species are also discussed.References
Chen, L.-C. (1981) Scorpaenid fishes of Taiwan. Quarterly Journal of the Taiwan Museum, 34, 1–60.
Eschmeyer, W.N. (1965) Western Atlantic scorpionfishes of the genus Scorpaena, including four new species. Bulletin of Marine Science, 15, 84–164.
Eschmeyer, W.N. & Randall, J.E. (1975) The scorpaenid fishes of the Hawaiian Islands, including new species and new records (Pisces: Scorpaenidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (fourth series), 40, 265–334.
Fowler, H.W. (1938) Descriptions of new fishes obtained by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer “Albatross”, chiefly in Philippine seas and adjacent waters. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 85, 31–135.
Gilbert, C. H. (1905) The aquatic resources of the Hawaiian Islands. Part II. Section II. The deep-sea fishes. Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, 23, xi + 577–713.
Leviton, A.E., Gibbs, Jr. R.H., Heal, E., & Dawson, C.E. (1985) Standards in herpetology and ichthyology. Part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia, 1985, 802–832.
Motomura, H. (2004a) New species of scorpionfish, Scorpaena cocosensis (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the Cocos Islands, Costa Rica, eastern Pacific Ocean. Copeia, 2004, 818–824.
Motomura, H. (2004b) Revision of the scorpionfish genus Neosebastes (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo–Pacific Fishes, 37, 1–76.
Motomura, H., Paulin, C. D. & Stewart, A. L. (2005) First records of Scorpaena onaria (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and comparisons with the Northern Hemisphere population. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 39, 865–880.
Motomura, H., Yoshino, T., & Takamura, N. (2004) Review of the scorpionfish genus Scorpaenopsis (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) in Japanese waters with three new records and an assessment of standard Japanese names. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 51, 89–115.
Poss, S.G. (1999) Scorpaenidae. In: Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (Eds) FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 4. Bony Fishes Part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome, 2291–2352.
Randall, J.E. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (2002: dated 2001) Revision of the Indo–Pacific scorpionfish genus Scorpaenopsis, with descriptions of eight new species. Indo–Pacific Fishes, 34, 1–79.