149: SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
149.5 Dendrochirus zebra
(Cuvier, 1829)
Zebra turkeyfish
Sebra-kalkoenvis
Pterois zebra Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 270 (Mauritius). Dendrochirus zebra: Smith, SFSA No. 1049; 1957: 81 *.
D XIII,IO-l1; A III,6-7; P 17.
Body reddish with about 5 dark bars, alternating with
thin dark bars in larger specimens. Median fins with small
dark spots. Long, banded tentacle usually present above
eye. Dark spot on cheek. Attains about 20 cm. Off Durban
in 30 fms (Smith, 1957), northwards to Red Sea and east to
central Pacific; usually in shallow water.
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149.5 Dendrochirus zebra: 14 cm (Seychelles).
Genus Parapterois Bleeker, 1876
Similar to Pterois, but only 2 A spines (appears like 3 in
young), more P rays, and some P rays branched; C of large
adults truncated, with upper and lower rays longest. Apparently only 1 species; see Smith (1957) and Matsubara
(1943) for synonyms and more information.
149.6 Parapterois heterurus
(Bleeker, 1856)
Blackfoot firefish
Swartvoet-vuurvis
Parapterois heterurus Bleeker, 1856: 33 (Ambon); 1876: 55, PI. 1;
Smith, 1957: 83*. Pterois nigripinnis Gilchrist, 1905: 2, PI. 20 (Natal).
149.6 Parapterois heterurus: 10 cm (off Natal).
466
Pterois natalensis von Bonde, 1923: 32, PI. 8 (near Durban). Pterois
macrurus: Smith, SFSA No. 1046.
D XIII,9; A 11,7-8; P 18-21.
Attains about 20 cm. Trawled on soft bottom in coastal
areas at depths of about 40 - 300 m; Natal coast northwards,
across Indian Ocean to western Pacific.
Genus Pterois Oken, 1817
Body compressed. P with 12-17 unbranched rays reaching well past A . D spines longer than body depth in most
species. Usually found on reefs, may be mostly nocturnal,
remaining in caves and crevices during day. Pteropterus
Swainson is a synonym; 7 species, 5 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Scales on body cycloid; P 13-14 ...................... 2
Ib Scales on body ctenoid; P 15-17 ...................... 3
2a Normally 14 P rays; soft D, C & A with small
dark spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. miles
2b Normally 13 P rays; soft D, C & A mostly without
spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. russellii
3a D spines 13; Prays 18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. mombasae
3b D spines 12; Prays 16-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4a About 5 broad dark bars on body, bordered
by white; broad horizontal stripe on C peduncle;
tentacle above eye not banded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. radiata
4b Numerous dark bars on body; thin diagonal
bars on C peduncle; tentacle above eye banded
with dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. antennata
149.7 Pterois antennata
(Bloch,1787)
PLATE 25
Broadbarred firefish
Breebalk-vuurvis
Scorpaena antennata Bloch, 1787: 21, PI. 185 (no locality). Pterois
antennata: Smith, SFSA No. 1046a*. Pteropterus antennata: Smith, 1957:
79*.
D XII,1l-12; A III,6; P 16-17. Scales mostly ctenoid.
Reddish to tan, with many dark bars on body; median fins
149.7 Pterois antennata: 11.5 cm (N. Mozambique).
149.5 Dendrochirus zebra
(Cuvier, 1829)
Zebra turkeyfish
Sebra-kalkoenvis
Pterois zebra Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 270 (Mauritius). Dendrochirus zebra: Smith, SFSA No. 1049; 1957: 81 *.
D XIII,IO-l1; A III,6-7; P 17.
Body reddish with about 5 dark bars, alternating with
thin dark bars in larger specimens. Median fins with small
dark spots. Long, banded tentacle usually present above
eye. Dark spot on cheek. Attains about 20 cm. Off Durban
in 30 fms (Smith, 1957), northwards to Red Sea and east to
central Pacific; usually in shallow water.
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149.5 Dendrochirus zebra: 14 cm (Seychelles).
Genus Parapterois Bleeker, 1876
Similar to Pterois, but only 2 A spines (appears like 3 in
young), more P rays, and some P rays branched; C of large
adults truncated, with upper and lower rays longest. Apparently only 1 species; see Smith (1957) and Matsubara
(1943) for synonyms and more information.
149.6 Parapterois heterurus
(Bleeker, 1856)
Blackfoot firefish
Swartvoet-vuurvis
Parapterois heterurus Bleeker, 1856: 33 (Ambon); 1876: 55, PI. 1;
Smith, 1957: 83*. Pterois nigripinnis Gilchrist, 1905: 2, PI. 20 (Natal).
149.6 Parapterois heterurus: 10 cm (off Natal).
466
Pterois natalensis von Bonde, 1923: 32, PI. 8 (near Durban). Pterois
macrurus: Smith, SFSA No. 1046.
D XIII,9; A 11,7-8; P 18-21.
Attains about 20 cm. Trawled on soft bottom in coastal
areas at depths of about 40 - 300 m; Natal coast northwards,
across Indian Ocean to western Pacific.
Genus Pterois Oken, 1817
Body compressed. P with 12-17 unbranched rays reaching well past A . D spines longer than body depth in most
species. Usually found on reefs, may be mostly nocturnal,
remaining in caves and crevices during day. Pteropterus
Swainson is a synonym; 7 species, 5 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Scales on body cycloid; P 13-14 ...................... 2
Ib Scales on body ctenoid; P 15-17 ...................... 3
2a Normally 14 P rays; soft D, C & A with small
dark spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. miles
2b Normally 13 P rays; soft D, C & A mostly without
spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. russellii
3a D spines 13; Prays 18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. mombasae
3b D spines 12; Prays 16-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4a About 5 broad dark bars on body, bordered
by white; broad horizontal stripe on C peduncle;
tentacle above eye not banded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. radiata
4b Numerous dark bars on body; thin diagonal
bars on C peduncle; tentacle above eye banded
with dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. antennata
149.7 Pterois antennata
(Bloch,1787)
PLATE 25
Broadbarred firefish
Breebalk-vuurvis
Scorpaena antennata Bloch, 1787: 21, PI. 185 (no locality). Pterois
antennata: Smith, SFSA No. 1046a*. Pteropterus antennata: Smith, 1957:
79*.
D XII,1l-12; A III,6; P 16-17. Scales mostly ctenoid.
Reddish to tan, with many dark bars on body; median fins
149.7 Pterois antennata: 11.5 cm (N. Mozambique).