Parascorpaena aurita (Rüppell, 1838), Ruppell, 1838

Motomura, Hiroyuki, Sakurai, You, Senou, Hiroshi & Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2009, Morphological comparisons of the Indo-West Pacific scorpionfish, Parascorpaena aurita, with a closely related species, P. picta, with first records of P. aurita from East Asia (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), Zootaxa 2191, pp. 41-57 : 43-51

Parascorpaena aurita (Rüppell, 1838)

[English name: Golden Scorpionfish]

[New Japanese name: Chiburu-nettaifusakasago] ( Figs. 1 , 3 A, 4A, 5A, 6; Tables 1–2 )

Scorpaena aurita Rüppell, 1838:106 , pl. 27, fig. 2 (type locality: Massawa, Eritrea, Red Sea).

Material examined. 96 specimens, 32.3–117.2 mm SL. MADAGASCAR: CAS 54035, 89.5 mm SL, off Nosy Be Island, 13°26’10”S, 48°22’54”E, J. Rudloe, 14 Feb. 1964; CAS 207369, 42.2 mm SL, Chesterfield Island, 16°21’S, 43°59’E, 5 m, L. Knapp, 16 Oct. 1964. ISRAEL: USNM 266174, 47.8 mm SL, northwest coast of Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, 0–2 m, V. Springer et al., 29 July 1969. THAILAND (INDIAN OCEAN): BPBM 22840, 2 specimens, 32.3–41.4 mm SL, Koh Miang, Andaman Sea, 0–2 m, J. Randall et al., 14 Feb. 1979; CAS 41311, 2 specimens, 78.7–85.1 mm SL, Patong Bay, Phuket, Andaman Sea, T. Tyler et al., 22 Mar. 1963. JAPAN: BSKU 96650, 116.1 mm SL, Isso Beach, Isso, Yakushima Island, 30°27’22”N, 130°29’47”E, 7.5 m, H. Endo, 31 Oct. 2008; KAUM – I. 1548, 103.2 mm SL, off Ginowan, Okinawa Island, 26°15’–20’N, 127°42’–45’E, 10–15 m, M. Ota, Oct. 2006; KAUM – I. 1549, 93.8 mm SL, same data as KAUM – I. 1548; KAUM – I. 1550, 100.0 mm SL, same data as KAUM – I. 1548; KAUM –I. 7634, 99.6 mm SL, off Ginowan, Okinawa Island, 26°15’–20’N, 127°42’–45’E, 10–15 m, M. Ota, Feb. 2007; KAUM –I. 7639, 75.9 mm SL, off Isyado, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, 26°16’56”N, 127°48’50”E, 3.1 m, 7 Mar. 2007, M. Ota; KAUM –I. 7641, 107.3 mm SL, same data as KAUM –I. 7639; KAUM –I. 7642, 109.8 mm SL, off Ginowan, Okinawa Island, 26°15’–20’N, 127°42’–45’E, 10–15 m, M. Ota, Mar. 2007; KAUM –I. 7645, 112.7 mm SL, off Awase, Okinawa Island, 26°18’44”N, 127°52’24”E, 5–6 m, K. Saitou, 19 Feb. 2007; KAUM –I. 7646, 104.8 mm SL, off Isyado, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, 26°16’56”N, 127°48’50”E, 2.5 m, 6 Mar. 2007, K. Yamashita; KAUM –I. 7648, 97.0 mm SL, off Isyado, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, 26°16’17”N, 127°48’47”E, 3 m, 8 Mar. 2007, M. Ota; KAUM –I. 7949, 102.5 mm SL, same data as KAUM –I. 7648; KAUM –I. 7650, 108.9 mm SL, same data as KAUM –I. 7648; KAUM –I. 8986, 75.9 mm SL, off Igei, Kin, Okinawa Island, 26°26’54”N, 127°54’03”E, 5–6 m, K. Hagiwara, 17 Jan. 2008; KAUM –I. 8987, 115.9 mm SL, off Kuba, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, 26°16’N, 127°49’E, 2–3 m, T. Kamiya, 26 Jan. 2008; KAUM –I. 8989, 111.7 mm SL, off Isyado, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, 26°16’06’N, 127°48’50”E, 5–6 m, T. Kamiya, 25 Jan. 2008; KAUM –I. 8990, 100.6 mm SL, same data as KAUM –I. 8989; KPM –NI 16846, 96.0 mm SL, Tokashiku Bay, Tokashiki Island, Kerama Islands, 16–19 Mar. 1998; KPM –NI 16855, 101.4 mm SL, Tokashiku Bay, Tokashiki Island, Kerama Islands, Y. Ishida, 28 Feb. 2005; KPM –NI 16861, 90.7 mm SL, Tokashiku Bay, Tokashiki Island, Kerama Islands, H. Gunji, 9 Mar. 2005; KPM –NI 16863, 106.8 mm SL, Tokashiku Bay, Tokashiki Island, Kerama Islands, T. Okada, 10 Mar. 2005; NSMT –P 66829, 89.4 mm SL, Barasu, Iriomote-jima Island, Ryukyu Islands, T. Suzuki and M. Hosokawa, 8 Aug. 1996; URM –P 15170, 33.5 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, H. Senou et al., 14 Nov. 1985; URM –P 20047, 105.9 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, 1 m, N. Takamura, 13 Nov. 1988; URM –P 20276, 103.8 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 3 m, N. Takamura, 22 July 1989; URM –P 20915, 103.2 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, N. Takamura, 2 Mar. 1989; URM –P 20916, 78.4 mm SL, same data as URM –P 20915; URM –P 20918, 103.6 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, N. Takamura, 11 Mar. 1989; URM –P 20919, 89.4 mm SL, same data as URM –P 20918; URM –P 21269, 100.7 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 3 m, N. Takamura, 21 July 1989; URM –P 21274, 78.1 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 2 m, N. Takamura, 22 July 1989; URM –P 21279, 75.7 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 3 m, N. Takamura, 23 July 1989; URM –P 21280, 79.0 mm SL, same data as URM –P 21279; URM –P 21282, 96.1 mm SL, same data as URM –P 21279; URM –P 21287, 79.9 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 1 m, N. Takamura, 24 July 1989; URM –P 21289, 91.7 mm SL, same data as URM –P 21287; URM –P 21310, 103.7 mm SL, Mizugama, Kadena, Okinawa Island, 2–3 m, N. Takamura, 25 July 1989; URM –P 30588, 116.7 mm SL, Motobu-shinkou, Okinawa Island, line-fishing, Nakano et al., 16 Oct. 1993; URM –P 30590, 105.0 mm SL, Minatogawa, Urasoe, Okinawa Island, Y. Sakurai et al., 17 Oct. 1993; URM –P 30837, 72.6 mm SL, off Zanpa Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, K. Kishi and H. Mochizuki, 1 Dec. 1993; URM –P 30838, 77.4 mm SL, same data as URM –P 30837; URM –P 30839, 88.2 mm SL, same data as URM –P 30837; URM –P 30840, 104.1 mm SL, same data as URM –P 30837; URM –P 31974, 39.4 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, H. Yoshigou et al., 23 June 1994; URM –P 32967, 109.2 mm SL, Minatogawa, Yaese, Okinawa Island, 1 m, Y. Sakurai et al., 3–4 Nov. 1994; URM –P 33035, 108.2 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, Sekine and H. Mochizuki, 18 Nov. 1994; URM –P 33766, 80.4 mm SL, Akasaki, Ishikawa, Okinawa Island, H. Yoshigou et al., 10 June 1995; URM –P 34943, 65.9 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, H. Yoshigou et al., 22 Dec.1995; URM –P 34944, 39.5 mm SL, off Maeda Cape, Onna, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, H. Yoshigou et al., 22 Dec. 1995; YCM –P 34618, 87.3 mm SL, Setouchi, Amami-oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, 2 Sept. 1994. TAIWAN: ASIZP 57377, 69.0 mm SL, Hsiaoliuchiu Island, Ping-tong, J.-P. Chen, 21 May 1991; ASIZP 58348, 2 specimens, 77.2–84.7 mm SL, Yeliou, Taipei, S.- C. Lee, 21 Mar. 1975; ASIZP 60603, 100.9 mm SL, Penghu Islands, J.-P. Chen, 25 Apr. 1991; ASIZP 60893, 104.7 mm SL, Nuclear Power Plant Island, Shihman, Taipei, J.-P. Chen, 11 July 2001; BPBM 29331, 32.4 mm SL, island off Sanhsientai, Taitung, 0–2 m, R. Rutherford et al., 12 July 1978; NTUM 3858, 61.2 mm SL, Sanhsientai, Taitung, 15 Mar. 1978. VIETNAM: CAS 41310, 100.9 mm SL, west shore of Ilot du Sud, off southern tip of Poulo Cécir de Mer, 10°29’15”N, 108°57’30”E, R. Bolin et al., 10 Mar. 1960; CAS 41568, 80.3 mm SL, off northeast end of Hon Mieu Island, Nhatrang Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, 12°11’30”N, 109°13’40”E, H. Fehlmann et al., 31 Jan. 1961. THAILAND (PACIFIC OCEAN): CAS 41565, 99.3 mm SL, off shore between Koh Chuang and Koh Samet, Gulf of Thailand, 12°13’–26’N, 101°07’–26’E, 2–7 May 1961. PHILIPPINES: CAS 54042, 78.1 mm SL, southwest of Paliton Village, Siquijor Island, 9°19’40”N, 123°26’52”E, V. Springer et al., 10 May 1978; SU 28384, 2 specimens, 86.4–86.5 mm SL, Culion Island, A. Herre, Apr. 1931; SU 29781, 89.0 mm SL, off Cebu Island, A. Herre, 27 July 1929; FMNH 110570, 81.5 mm SL, Batuan Point, Estancia Bay, Sicogon Island, 11°26’N, 123°16’E, M. Westneat, 25 Sep. 1995; USNM 55949, 98.0 mm SL, Luzon Island; USNM 266184, 108.4 mm SL, west side of Solino Island, Zamboanga Del Norte, Mindanao Island, 08°51’04”N, 123°24’06”E, 0–4.6 m, L. Knapp et al., 3 May 1979; USNM 266185, 79.3 mm SL, Maloh, Negros Oriental, 09°03’06”N, 122°59’42”E, H. Fehlmann et al., 18 May 1979. MALAYSIA: Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah uncat., 98.8 mm SL, Sepanggar Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Desmond and Thia; FMNH 108262, 98.0 mm SL, Kechil Island, off Pulo Bakkungaan, Sabah, 06°10’N, 118°07’E, R. Inger, 24 Aug. 1950. INDONESIA: USNM 218673, 93.2 mm SL, east shore of first bay of Sangkapura, Bawean Island, 05°52’20”S, 112°37’E, 0.9–3.6 m, V. Springer, 28 Mar. 1974. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: CAS 54046, 2 specimens, 75.0– 99.6 mm SL, off Baibesiga Island, 10°43’20”S, 150°17’00”E, 0–9 m, B. Collette et al., 14 June 1979. SOLOMON ISLANDS: AMS I. 15360- 0 26, 117.2 mm SL, Bita-ama Reef, Malaita Island, 08°24’S, 160°35’E, W. Dawbin, July 1968; CAS 54047, 81.1 mm SL, Kieta, Bougainville Island, 0.6–3.7 m, M. Cohen, 10 Mar. 1965. AUSTRALIA: AMS IA. 2798, 85.5 mm SL, Michaelmas Cay, off Cairns, Queensland, 16°42’S, 146°10’E, T. Iredale and G. Whitley, 1926; AMS IA. 4043, 88.1 mm SL, Northwest Islet, Queensland, 10°40’S, 142°07’E, M. Ward and W. Boardman, 1929; AMS IA. 6017, 55.2 mm SL, Hayman Island, Queensland, 20°03’S, 148°53’E, F. Mcneill, 1934; AMS IA. 7032, 100.7 mm SL, Hook Reef, Queensland, 20°07’S, 148°55’E, H. Warner, 1936; AMS I. 20201-046, 2, 62.0– 104.1 mm SL, One Tree Island, Queensland, 23°30’S, 152°05’E, 0–2 m, D. Hoese, 29 Sep. 1971; AMS I. 20507-001, 54.4 mm SL, One Tree Island, Queensland, 23°30’S, 152°05’E, D. Hoese, 4 Oct. 1972; AMS I. 20770-129, 55.8 mm SL, Sir Charles Hardy Island, Queensland, 11°55’S, 143°27’E, 6 m, AMS-AIMS, 14 Feb. 1979; BPBM 14511, 112.8 mm SL, channel at east side of One Tree Island, Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, J. Randall, 20 Jan. 1973; CSIRO A 4293, 106.3 mm SL, off Heron Island, Queensland, 23°27’S, 151°55’E, 1 m, P. Young et al., 2 July 1977; MCZ 38569, 77.3 mm SL, Curacoa Islands, Queensland, Department of Harbours and Marine, Brisbane; WAM P. 22845, 112.0 mm SL, Museum Bay, Kendrew Island, Western Australia, B. Hutchins, 20 Feb. 1973; WAM P. 26670-017, 46.3 mm SL, Drik Hartog Island, Western Australia, 26°08’S, 113°10’E, 2 m, B. Hutchins and N. Sarti, 14 Apr. 1979; WAM P. 27965-005, 88.0 mm SL, off west end of Point Quobba, Western Australia, 24°29’S, 113°25’E, 8–9 m, B. Hutchins, 23 Apr. 1983.

Diagnosis. A species of Parascorpaena with the following characters: pectoral-fin rays usually 17 (rarely 16 or 18); scale rows in longitudinal series 35–44 (mode 40); scale rows below lateral line 12–16 (14); scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 4–7 (6); scale rows between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5–7 (6); first and second suborbital ridges well separated, posterior portion of former overlapping anterior portion of latter ( Fig. 5 ); first ridge lacking spines, second ridge with two spines behind level of orbit; interorbital ridges well developed posteriorly from middle of eye, joining as a broad loop level with posterior margin of orbit, enclosing a relatively deep depression ( Fig. 4 ); occipital pit well developed, fairly deep ( Fig. 4 ); larger head and orbit, head length 42.0–48.3% (mean 45.3%) of SL and orbit diameter 11.6–15.2% (12.6%) of SL ( Fig. 6 ); longer upper jaw and pectoral fin, upper-jaw length 21.0–26.8% (23.1%) of SL and longest pectoral-fin ray length 28.6–36.5% (34.0%) of SL ( Fig. 6 ); no black blotch on spinous portion of dorsal fin.

Description. Measurements as percentages of SL of the specimens examined are given in Table 1 . Selected meristic counts are given in Table 2. Dorsal fin with 12 spines and nine soft rays (one specimen with eight rays); all soft rays branched; fourth and fifth spines equally longest, its length slightly less than upperjaw length; fourth to eleventh spines progressively shorter; membrane of spinous portion of dorsal fin moderately notched; second soft ray longest, its length subequal to that of longest dorsal-fin spine; posterior branch of last soft ray joined by membrane to caudal peduncle for approximately three-fifths its length. Anal fin with three spines and five soft rays; all soft rays branched; first soft ray longest, its length longer than that of longest dorsal-fin soft ray; posterior branch of last soft ray joined by membrane to caudal peduncle for less than one-tenth its length. All pectoral-fin rays unbranched in juveniles less than ca. 40 mm SL; middle unbranched rays becoming branched rays with growth, three to five branched rays in adults; seventh or eighth ray longest, length less than head length; lower unbranched rays thickened; posterior margin of fin rounded. Pelvic fin with one spine and five soft rays, all soft rays branched; second soft ray longest, its length slightly longer than upper-jaw length; last soft ray joined by membrane to abdomen for about half its length. Caudal fin with 11 or 12 branched rays; posterior margin of fin slightly rounded. Gill rakers relatively short and spinous, longest raker on first gill arch approximately equal length with gill filaments around angle of gill arch; fourth gill slit closed by membrane. Branchiostegal rays seven. Swimbladder absent.

Body moderately compressed anteriorly, progressively more compressed posteriorly. Nape and anterior body moderately arched. Body depth slightly less than head length. Numerous small papillae and tiny tentacles on head. Posterior lacrimal spine tentacle linked posteriorly to head by skin. A short tentacle on posterior edge of low membranous tube associated with anterior nostril; the tentacle reaching posterior margin of posterior nostril when laid back. Supraocular tentacle absent or present, sometimes longer than orbit diameter. Pectoral-fin axil without skin flaps.

Well-exposed cycloid scales covering an area surrounded by opercular margin and tips of upper and lower opercular spines, other parts of head not covered with exposed scales. Embedded scales between orbit and preopercular margin. Well-exposed cycloid scales on lateral surface of body. Body scales extending onto basal rays or membranes of all fins, except for pelvic fin. Exposed cycloid scales covering pectoral-fin base. Exposed cycloid scales covering ventral surface of body; some scales embedded by thin skin.

Mouth large, slightly oblique; posterior margin of maxilla reaching or extending slightly beyond the vertical through posterior margin of orbit. Upper edge of posterior maxilla swollen laterally, forming a distinct ridge. Lower jaw with a symphysial knob in larger specimens. Width of symphysial gap separating premaxillary teeth bands narrower than width of each band. Upper and lower jaws with a band of villiform teeth. More than 10 rows of small teeth at front of vomer, becoming less than 5 rows posteriorly, forming a Vshaped patch on vomer. Width of vomerine plate slightly greater than length of palatine plate. About five tooth rows on palatines. Underside of lower jaw smooth without ridges.

Dorsal profile of snout steep, forming an angle of about 50 degrees to horizontal axis of head and body. Nasal spine simple, sharp, directed dorsally, its length greater than anterior nostril diameter. Ascending process of premaxilla slightly intruding into interorbital space, its posterior margin extending well beyond level with posterior margin of posterior nostril in dorsal view. Median interorbital ridge absent. Interorbital ridges well developed posteriorly, separated by a deep channel; interorbital ridges initially diverging posteriorly in dorsal view and then conjoined level with and between origins of tympanic spines, forming a distinct ridge to anterior angular edge of occipital pit. Interorbital space deep, about one-third of orbit extending above dorsal profile of head. Preocular spine simple, directed dorsoposteriorly; tip of spine extending beyond level with upper margin of pupil in lateral view. Supraocular and postocular spines simple, well developed. Tympanic spine simple, strongly pointed, directed posterodorsally, with narrow base. Interorbital, coronal and pretympanic spines absent. Occipital pit fairly deep; longitudinal length of pit less than width of pit. Occipital pit surrounded laterally by tympanic and parietal spines; lateral sides of pit without distinct ridges. Parietal spine simple, its base curving strongly into occipital pit. Nuchal spine simple; nuchal

1at pelvic-fin spine base; 2at first anal-fin spine base; 3at vertical midline of eye; 4at posterior end of preocular spine base.

and parietal spines joined at base. Sphenotic usually with two small spines. Postorbital without spines. Pterotic spine simple, strong, located below parietal spine. Upper posttemporal spine simple, pointed, directed dorsoposteriorly, its length shorter than that of lower posttemporal spine. Lower posttemporal spine simple, its base length greater than that of pterotic spine. Supracleithral spine simple, well developed, not flattened. Cleithral spine flattened, pointed with a low median ridge.

Lateral surface of lacrimal with six ridges radiating from center; a backward and forward ridges with a distinct median ridge, other ridges without distinct median ridges; anterior end of forward ridge embedded with skin; ends of two upward ridges with bumps; two downward ridges forming anterior and posterior lacrimal spines. Anterior lacrimal spine pointed, directed forward, its tip just reaching dorsal margin of upper lip. Posterior lacrimal spine simple, directed ventroanteriorly, its tip usually not reaching upper lip; length of posterior lacrimal spine approximately equal to or slightly shorter than that of anterior spine. Suborbital with two ridges; first ridge relatively low, without spines; second ridge well developed, with two spines, tip of first spine extending beyond the vertical through posterior margin of orbit, second spine on end of second suborbital ridge. Space between ventral margin of eye and suborbital ridge moderate. Suborbital pit present. Preopercle with five spines; uppermost spine largest with a supplemental preopercular spine on its base; third to fifth spines flat, with broad base. Preopercle, between uppermost preopercular spine and upper end of preopercle, smooth without serrae or spines. Upper opercular spine simple with a low median ridge. Lower opercular spine simple with a distinct median ridge. Space between upper and lower opercular spines sometimes with indistinct ridges. Posterior tips of upper and lower opercular spines not extending beyond opercular margin.

Origin of first dorsal-fin spine above posttemporal spines. Posterior margin of opercular membrane reaching the vertical through fourth dorsal-fin spine base. Posterior tip of pectoral fin not reaching the vertical through first anal-fin spine base. Origin of pelvic-fin spine slightly posterior to origin of pectoral fin. Posterior tip of depressed pelvic fin extending well beyond anus, but not reaching first anal-fin spine base. Origin of first anal-fin spine slightly posterior to origin of last dorsal-fin spine.

Color when fresh. Based on color photographs of 15 specimens deposited at KAUM. Body strongly variegated, mainly brownish or grayish, suffused with irregular blackish, reddish, yellowish brown and/or white blotches. Underside of head white, mottled with brownish or reddish blotches. Spinous portion of dorsal fin strongly variegated, but no distinct black blotches in both sexes. Soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin translucent white, with four poorly defined dark blotches. Lower portion of pectoral fin white, with poorly defined reddish-brown spots. Pelvic fin white basally, reddish-brown or brown distally. Anal fin whitish with three or four reddish-brown bands obliquely across the fin. Caudal fin translucent white, with three brownish or grayish bands; first band at base of fin, second at middle of fin, third at distal margin of fin.

Color of preserved specimens. Head and trunk yellowish-white, mottled with poorly defined black blotches. Underside of head usually mottled with dark blotches, but sometimes white without blotches. Softrayed portion of fins translucent, with poorly defined dark blotches; soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin with four poorly defined dark blotches. No distinct large blotch on spinous portion of dorsal fin. Anal fin whitish with three or four dark bands obliquely across the fin. Caudal fin with three dark bands.

Remarks. Taxonomically useful characters of Parascorpaena aurita have at no time been described in detail. Accordingly, very few records of P. aurita exist in the literature, even in faunal checklists, although the species is common in shallow tropical and subtropical waters in the Indo-West Pacific (all specimens examined during this study were collected from less than 30 m depth). On the other hand, the species has often been mis-identified or reported as an unidentified species, examples including Weber & de Beaufort’s (1962) description of P. p i c t a from the Indo-West Pacific, in which the meristics indicate the likelihood of P. aurita , P. m o s s a m b i c a and P. p i c t a having been included. A description and figure (as Parascorpaena sp.) from south of the Lesser Sunda Islands by Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola (1984: 112–113) appears to be P. aurita because of having occipital pit and fewer than 40 scale rows in longitudinal series. Manilo & Bogorodsky’s (2003) P. p i c t a from the Arabian Sea is undoubtedly P. aurita because of the distributional range given (see below).

In East Asian waters, P. aurita has rarely been reported (exception: Jones et al., 1972), although several records of P. p i c t a exist. Jones et al. (1972) listed P. aurita (UTIO–F. 96, 86 mm SL) from southern Taiwan (Hai-k’ou to O-luan-pi), stating that listed specimens had been deposited in the museum of the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei. However, because no fish specimens are presently held by the latter (T. Miki, pers. comm.), we could not confirm Jones et al.’s identification.

Although Chen (1981) reported P. p i c t a on the basis of three specimens from Heng-chun and Tai-tung in his taxonomic review of scorpionfishes in Taiwan, examination of one (NTUM 3858) of the three specimens (remaining two specimens not available to this study) and all specimens of Parascorpaena deposited at ASIZP and NTUM (see Material examined) showed them to be P. aurita . A photograph identified as P. p i c t a by Shao & Chen (1993: pl. 57, fig. 1) is also likely to be P. aurita . In addition, our examinations of scorpionfish specimens deposited at Japanese museums and specimens newly collected from the Ryukyu Islands revealed that P. a u r i t a is relatively common in Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. Such specimens represent the first reliable records of the species from East Asia (seven specimens from Taiwan and 49 specimens from Japan). A single specimen (BSKU 96650, 116.1 mm SL) from Yakushima Island (30°27’22”N, 130°29’47”E) represents the northernmost record of the species.

Incidentally, P. p i c t a figured by Shen (1984: pl. 30, fig. 264-14) was re-identified here as Scorpaena miostoma Günther, 1877 . In addition, Chen’s (2003: fig. 210) report of P. p i c t a from Penghu now known to have been Scorpaena pepo Motomura et al., 2007 . In fact, the present study showed that the distributional range of P. p i c t a is restricted to Southeast Asia and Australia, the species not occurring in East Asian waters, whereas P. aurita is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, where it ranges from the east coast of Africa ( Eschmeyer, 1986) and the Red Sea to southern Japan and Australia ( Fig. 3 ).

Yearsley et al. (2006) reported the English name for P. aurita as “Golden Scorpionfish”, although that name was preoccupied for P. mossambica by Eschmeyer (1986). However, in recent year, “ Mozambique Scorpionfish” has been used for P. mossambica by many authors, including Randall et al. (1997), Poss (1999), Randall (2005), and Yearsley et al. (2006). Thus, we recognize “Golden Scorpionfish” and “ Mozambique Scorpionfish” as English names for P. aurita and P. p i c t a, respectively. Chiburu-nettaifusakasago is herein proposed as the new standard Japanese name for Japanese specimens of P. aurita .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Parascorpaena aurita. A, KAUM – I. 8986, 75.9 mm SL, Japan; B, BPBM 14511, 112.8 mm SL, Australia.

FIGURE 3. Distributional records of (A) Parascorpaena aurita and (B) P. p i c t a, based on specimens examined in this study.

FIGURE 4. Dorsolateral views of posterior portion of interorbital space and occipital pit of (A) Parascorpaena aurita and (B) P. p i ct a. A, BPBM 14511, 112.8 mm SL, Australia; B, CAS 41296, 105.9 mm SL, Thailand. IR = interorbital ridge; TS = tympanic spine; OP = occipital pit; PS = parietal spine.

FIGURE 5. Ventrolateral views of suborbital ridges of (A) Parascorpaena aurita and (B) P. p i c t a (skin removed). A, SU 28384, 86.4 mm SL, Philippines; B, CAS 41299, 98.9 mm SL, Thailand. Arrow indicates a gap between the first and second suborbital ridges. LB = lacrimal bone; FSR = first suborbital ridge; SSR = second suborbital ridge; SS = suborbital spines. Bars indicate 5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Relationships of (A) head length, (B) orbit diameter, (C) upper-jaw length and (D) longest pectoral-fin ray length to standard length in Parascorpaena aurita (circles) and P. p i c t a (triangles).

Tables

TABLE 1. Morphometrics of specimens of Parascorpaena aurita and P. p i c t a, expressed as percentages of standard length. Mean in parenthesis.

	P. a u r i t a	P. p i c t a
	n = 96	n = 70
Standard length (mm)	32.3–117.2	38.6–122.8
Body depth1	34.9–42.8 (39.6)	36.6–40.1 (38.7)
Body depth2	31.5–32.3 (31.9)	30.3–35.0 (31.7)
Body width	21.7–28.1 (25.8)	22.4–26.1 (24.3)
Head length	42.0–48.3 (45.3)	40.1–46.3 (43.6)
Snout length	11.3–14.9 (12.8)	12.1–13.0 (12.6)
Orbit diameter	11.6–15.2 (12.6)	10.5–13.0 (11.4)
Interorbital width3	6.5–9.7 (7.5)	7.1–8.3 (7.7)
Interorbital width4	5.2–7.0 (6.1)	5.9–7.7 (6.9)
Head width	14.6–16.8 (15.8)	14.9–16.4 (15.4)
Upper-jaw length	21.0–26.8 (23.1)	20.0–24.0 (21.5)
Maxillary depth	5.6–7.5 (6.8)	6.1–7.0 (6.4)
Postorbital length	21.9–24.3 (23.0)	21.5–22.9 (22.4)
Between tips of opercular spines	6.1–7.6 (6.6)	5.2–7.6 (6.6)
Predorsal-fin length	37.1–40.0 (38.0)	36.3–38.6 (37.7)
Preanal-fin length	73.1–76.7 (75.0)	72.8–76.4 (73.9)
Prepelvic-fin length	39.5–43.4 (41.0)	38.4–42.2 (40.2)
1st dorsal-fin spine length	7.3–9.4 (8.3)	6.5–9.2 (7.8)
2nd dorsal-fin spine length	12.5–14.2 (13.3)	11.8–13.8 (12.9)
3rd dorsal-fin spine length	17.3–18.7 (17.9)	16.2–19.7 (17.6)
4th dorsal-fin spine length	18.6–21.1 (19.8)	18.0–21.2 (19.4)
5th dorsal-fin spine length	18.6–21.5 (19.9)	17.9–20.7 (19.1)
11th dorsal-fin spine length	8.1–10.8 (9.2)	8.6–11.9 (10.1)
12th dorsal-fin spine length	14.4–17.9 (16.1)	13.4–16.5 (15.3)
Longest dorsal-fin ray length (2nd)	19.4–22.4 (21.2)	22.2–23.7 (22.7)
Soft-rayed dorsal-fin base length	17.6–21.0 (18.8)	17.9–20.7 (19.1)
1st anal-fin spine length	9.6–13.2 (11.2)	11.0–13.5 (12.5)
2nd anal-fin spine length	23.6–27.9 (25.8)	23.7–27.2 (25.2)
3rd anal-fin spine length	19.8–24.3 (21.1)	20.6–22.8 (21.4)
Longest anal-fin ray length (1st)	24.5–26.6 (25.6)	25.6–28.4 (26.7)
Pectoral-fin ray length (7th or 8th)	28.6–36.5 (34.0)	29.5–36.7 (31.8)
Pelvic-fin spine length	15.9–18.7 (17.1)	16.3–18.8 (17.5)
Longest pelvic-fin ray length (2nd)	26.9–28.9 (27.7)	26.4–30.4 (28.4)
Caudal-fin length	27.1–28.7 (28.0)	26.6–31.1 (28.6)
Caudal-peduncle length	13.4–16.8 (15.0)	14.0–15.7 (14.7)
Caudal-peduncle depth	10.8–12.3 (11.7)	10.5–12.4 (11.6)