D XII-XIV,7-9; P 14-16; LSS about 30. Note elongate middle P rays, as
in S. albaiensis.
Attains 5 cm. Bazaruto northwards, also scattered
localities in Pacific Ocean.
149.27 Scorpaenodes minor: 4 cm holotype (S. Mozambique).
149.28 Scorpaenodes parvipinnis
(Garrett, 1863)
PLATES 26 & 28
Coral scorpionfish
Koraal-skerpioenvis
Scorpaena parvipinnis Garrett, 1863: 105 (Hawaii) . Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: Smith, 1957: 67*; Eschmeyer & Randall, 1975: 280*. Paronescodes asperrimus Smith, 1958: 177 (on Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: Smith,
1957: 67 , Fig. 5, PI. 1, Fig. a (La Digue, Seychelles); 1961: 571; No. 1044d.
D XIII ,9; P 17-19; LSS 48-50.
Attains about 13 cm. Durban northwards; widespread on
coral reefs throughout Indo-West Pacific.
149.28 Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: 12 cm (Seychelles).
149.29 Scorpaenodes varipinnis
Smith,1957
PLATE 26
Blotchfin scorpionfish
Vlekvin-skerpioenvis
Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957: 65, Fig. 5, PI. 3, Fig. D (Zanzibar).
D XIII,8; P 17-18; LSS 38-40.
Attains about 7 cm. Sodwana Bay and northward in western Indian Ocean; also a few localities in western Pacific.
Rare.
149: SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
149.29 Scorpaenodes varipinnis: 7.5 cm holotype (Zanzibar).
Genus Scorpaenopsis Heckel, 1837
Large, robust, mostly inshore fishes. D normally XII,9;
A III,S; Prays 15-20. Scales ctenoid. No palatine teeth.
About 20 species; 7 in our area. Genus revised by Eschmeyer & Rama Rao (in press).
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body high behind head, humpbacked; dark spot on inside
ofP ........ . ........ : . ........ . ...... .. . ... 2
Ib Back arched, but no noticeable hump; no prominent dark
spot on inside of P '.' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2a Inside of P with a subterminal dark blotch
(interrupted by pale fin rays and covering 1-6 interradial membranes) but no subterminal dark band;
usually 18 Prays .. . . ... ' .. . .. . .... .. .. . .. .. S. diabolus
2b Inside of P with a large dark spot near upper
base and a broad subterminal dark band; usually
17 Prays ................. ... . ...... . . .. S. gibbosa
3a Upper opercular spine single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3b Upper opercular spine split into 2 or more spinous points . . . . . . 6
4a P rays usually 20; LSS about 60 .......... . . .. S. oxycephala
4bPrays17-18;LSS40-50 .. . ........... . . . . ...... .. . 5
5a Ridge across front of occiput, followed by a pit;
no extra spines overlying tympanic spines . . . . . . . . . . . S. venosa
5b Virtually no occipital pit; extra spines overlie
tympanic spines ... . .. .. . .. ........ . . Scorpaenopsis sp.
473
in S. albaiensis.
Attains 5 cm. Bazaruto northwards, also scattered
localities in Pacific Ocean.
149.27 Scorpaenodes minor: 4 cm holotype (S. Mozambique).
149.28 Scorpaenodes parvipinnis
(Garrett, 1863)
PLATES 26 & 28
Coral scorpionfish
Koraal-skerpioenvis
Scorpaena parvipinnis Garrett, 1863: 105 (Hawaii) . Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: Smith, 1957: 67*; Eschmeyer & Randall, 1975: 280*. Paronescodes asperrimus Smith, 1958: 177 (on Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: Smith,
1957: 67 , Fig. 5, PI. 1, Fig. a (La Digue, Seychelles); 1961: 571; No. 1044d.
D XIII ,9; P 17-19; LSS 48-50.
Attains about 13 cm. Durban northwards; widespread on
coral reefs throughout Indo-West Pacific.
149.28 Scorpaenodes parvipinnis: 12 cm (Seychelles).
149.29 Scorpaenodes varipinnis
Smith,1957
PLATE 26
Blotchfin scorpionfish
Vlekvin-skerpioenvis
Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957: 65, Fig. 5, PI. 3, Fig. D (Zanzibar).
D XIII,8; P 17-18; LSS 38-40.
Attains about 7 cm. Sodwana Bay and northward in western Indian Ocean; also a few localities in western Pacific.
Rare.
149: SCORPAENIDAE (SCORPIONFISHES)
149.29 Scorpaenodes varipinnis: 7.5 cm holotype (Zanzibar).
Genus Scorpaenopsis Heckel, 1837
Large, robust, mostly inshore fishes. D normally XII,9;
A III,S; Prays 15-20. Scales ctenoid. No palatine teeth.
About 20 species; 7 in our area. Genus revised by Eschmeyer & Rama Rao (in press).
KEY TO SPECIES
la Body high behind head, humpbacked; dark spot on inside
ofP ........ . ........ : . ........ . ...... .. . ... 2
Ib Back arched, but no noticeable hump; no prominent dark
spot on inside of P '.' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2a Inside of P with a subterminal dark blotch
(interrupted by pale fin rays and covering 1-6 interradial membranes) but no subterminal dark band;
usually 18 Prays .. . . ... ' .. . .. . .... .. .. . .. .. S. diabolus
2b Inside of P with a large dark spot near upper
base and a broad subterminal dark band; usually
17 Prays ................. ... . ...... . . .. S. gibbosa
3a Upper opercular spine single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3b Upper opercular spine split into 2 or more spinous points . . . . . . 6
4a P rays usually 20; LSS about 60 .......... . . .. S. oxycephala
4bPrays17-18;LSS40-50 .. . ........... . . . . ...... .. . 5
5a Ridge across front of occiput, followed by a pit;
no extra spines overlying tympanic spines . . . . . . . . . . . S. venosa
5b Virtually no occipital pit; extra spines overlie
tympanic spines ... . .. .. . .. ........ . . Scorpaenopsis sp.
473