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A new deepwater scorpionfish of the genus <I>Scorpaenopsis</I> (Scorpaenidae) from Wallis and Futuna Islands, southwestern Pacific Ocean

2011; Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science; Volume: 87; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5343/bms.2010.1066

1553-6955

Hiroyuki Motomura, Romain Causse,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

Scorpaenopsis crenulata sp. nov. (Scorpaenidae), a small deepwater (600 m) species, is described on the basis of a single specimen from Wallis and Futuna Islands, southwestern Pacific Ocean. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 17;scale rows in longitudinal series 37; pored lateral-line scales 19; posterior margin of maxilla extending well beyond a vertical through posterior margin of orbit; an additional spine arising from a low median ridge of anterior lacrimal spine; posterior lacrimal spine divided into two spinous points; interorbital ridges poorly developed; upper opercular spine divided into three spinous points; postocular, tympanic, nuchal, pterotic, posttemporal, and supracleithral spines serrated; occipital pit extremely deep; a pair of pores behind a symphysial knob on lower jaw; nape and anterior body not highly arched; interorbital space narrow, width less than orbit diameter; upper one-third of pectoral-fin axil with a large black blotch. The capture depth of S. crenulata indicates that it is the deepest occurring member of the genus.