149.13 Neomerinthe folgori: 3 em SL holotype (after Postel & Roux, 1964).
149.14 Neomerinthe nielseni
(Smith, 1964)
Spotfin scorpionfish
Kolvin-skerpioenvis
Sebastapistes nielseni Smith, 1964: 298, PI. 30, Fig. C (off Durban, 405
m ) . '
D XII,9-1O; A III,5; P 18-19; LSS about 30-35.
Dark spot on rear of spinous D; dusky smudges on body;
probably mostly red in life . Attains 14 cm. Several specimens trawled off Durban, 100 - 405 m.
149.14 Neomerinthe nielseni: 14 em holotype (off Durban).
Genus Parascorpaena Bleeker, 1876
Body moderately compressed; scales cycloid. Head
spines well developed; lachrymal bone with 2 spines over
maxillary, posterior spine long and diagnostically curves
outward and hooks forward (Jess hooked in young). D
XII,8-1O; P 14-18; LSS 35- 45. Palatine teeth present. IndoWest Pacific tropical areas. Recently revised by Eschmeyer
& Rama Rao (in press); 4 species, 3 in western Indian
Ocean, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
(Western Indian Ocean)
la Suborbital ridge with 2 spines, both posterior
to eye; P 17- 18 (rarely 16) ........... P. aurita Riippell, 1838
(Zanzibar northwards)
Ib Suborbital ridge with 3 spines, 1st spine
under eye; P 15-16 (rarely 14 or 17) .............. . ..... 2
2a Spine below eye not below a long ridge that
leads to 2nd spine . .. ................. Parascorpaena sp.
(Sri Lanka east to Philippines)
2b Spine below eye below a long ridge that leads to 2nd spine .. . . . 3
149: SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
3a Supraocular tentacle small to absent; colour
pale; males with black spot between D spines
8-10; some teeth on lower jaw canine-like in
large males (magnification needed) . . . . . . . . . . .. P. mcadamsi
3b Supraocular tentacle usually long, much longer
than orbit diameter; colour dark; no dark spot
on spinous D; lower jaw teeth about same size .... P. mossambica
149.15 Parascorpaena mcadamsi
(Fowler, 1938)
Ocellated scorpionfish
Ogies-skerpioenvis
Scorpaena mcadamsi Fowler, 1938: 60, Fig. 24 (Philippines). Parascorpaena maculipinnis Smith, 1957: 57, PI. 2, Fig. A (Bazaruto, Mozambique); 1961 : 571, No. 10373.
D XII,9; A III,5; P 15-17. Ridges between eyes diverge at rear, not encircling a pit.
Large black spot at rear of spinous D in large males; no
spot or a weak one in females and juveniles. Attains about 6
cm. Sodwana Bay, Zululand, and Mozambique to Pacific.
Shallow rocky areas.
149.15 Parascorpaena mcadamsi: 5.5 em holotype of P. maculipennis
(S. Mozambique).
149.16 Parascorpaena mossambica
(Peters, 1855)
PLATE 26
Golden scorpionfish
Goue skerpioenvis
Scorpaena mossambica Peters, 1855: 241 (Mozambique); Smith, SFSA
No. 1037*. Scorpaena aurita (non Riippell): Smith, 1957: 57' (in part);
1961: 571, No. 1037. Scorpaena durbanensis (non Gilchrist & Thompson):
Fowler, 1925: 253 .
D XII,9; A I1I,5; P 14-16.
No dark spot on spinous D. Attains about 10 cm. Xora
149.16 Parascorpaena mossambica: 11 em (Transkei).
469
149.14 Neomerinthe nielseni
(Smith, 1964)
Spotfin scorpionfish
Kolvin-skerpioenvis
Sebastapistes nielseni Smith, 1964: 298, PI. 30, Fig. C (off Durban, 405
m ) . '
D XII,9-1O; A III,5; P 18-19; LSS about 30-35.
Dark spot on rear of spinous D; dusky smudges on body;
probably mostly red in life . Attains 14 cm. Several specimens trawled off Durban, 100 - 405 m.
149.14 Neomerinthe nielseni: 14 em holotype (off Durban).
Genus Parascorpaena Bleeker, 1876
Body moderately compressed; scales cycloid. Head
spines well developed; lachrymal bone with 2 spines over
maxillary, posterior spine long and diagnostically curves
outward and hooks forward (Jess hooked in young). D
XII,8-1O; P 14-18; LSS 35- 45. Palatine teeth present. IndoWest Pacific tropical areas. Recently revised by Eschmeyer
& Rama Rao (in press); 4 species, 3 in western Indian
Ocean, 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
(Western Indian Ocean)
la Suborbital ridge with 2 spines, both posterior
to eye; P 17- 18 (rarely 16) ........... P. aurita Riippell, 1838
(Zanzibar northwards)
Ib Suborbital ridge with 3 spines, 1st spine
under eye; P 15-16 (rarely 14 or 17) .............. . ..... 2
2a Spine below eye not below a long ridge that
leads to 2nd spine . .. ................. Parascorpaena sp.
(Sri Lanka east to Philippines)
2b Spine below eye below a long ridge that leads to 2nd spine .. . . . 3
149: SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
3a Supraocular tentacle small to absent; colour
pale; males with black spot between D spines
8-10; some teeth on lower jaw canine-like in
large males (magnification needed) . . . . . . . . . . .. P. mcadamsi
3b Supraocular tentacle usually long, much longer
than orbit diameter; colour dark; no dark spot
on spinous D; lower jaw teeth about same size .... P. mossambica
149.15 Parascorpaena mcadamsi
(Fowler, 1938)
Ocellated scorpionfish
Ogies-skerpioenvis
Scorpaena mcadamsi Fowler, 1938: 60, Fig. 24 (Philippines). Parascorpaena maculipinnis Smith, 1957: 57, PI. 2, Fig. A (Bazaruto, Mozambique); 1961 : 571, No. 10373.
D XII,9; A III,5; P 15-17. Ridges between eyes diverge at rear, not encircling a pit.
Large black spot at rear of spinous D in large males; no
spot or a weak one in females and juveniles. Attains about 6
cm. Sodwana Bay, Zululand, and Mozambique to Pacific.
Shallow rocky areas.
149.15 Parascorpaena mcadamsi: 5.5 em holotype of P. maculipennis
(S. Mozambique).
149.16 Parascorpaena mossambica
(Peters, 1855)
PLATE 26
Golden scorpionfish
Goue skerpioenvis
Scorpaena mossambica Peters, 1855: 241 (Mozambique); Smith, SFSA
No. 1037*. Scorpaena aurita (non Riippell): Smith, 1957: 57' (in part);
1961: 571, No. 1037. Scorpaena durbanensis (non Gilchrist & Thompson):
Fowler, 1925: 253 .
D XII,9; A I1I,5; P 14-16.
No dark spot on spinous D. Attains about 10 cm. Xora
149.16 Parascorpaena mossambica: 11 em (Transkei).
469