Research Article
Print
Research Article
Redescription of Parascorpaena moultoni (Whitley, 1961) (Actinopterygii, Scorpaenidae), with new distribution records for the species
expand article infoRoxanne Cabebe-Barnuevo, Kunto Wibowo§, Hiroyuki Motomura|
‡ Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Japan
§ Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Cibinong, Indonesia
| The Kagoshima University Museum, Korimoto, Japan
Open Access

Abstract

Although the status of Parascorpaena moultoni (Whitley, 1961) is now well established, the morphology of the species has been re-examined, with new diagnostic features identified. Typically 15 or 16 pectoral-fin rays are present, together with two suborbital ridges, each with a single spine and the origin of the first ridge posterior to the second, well-developed interorbital ridges forming a loop, an undeveloped occipital pit, no scales on the dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray bases. The known range of the species includes Taiwan, the Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji in addition to previously reported Australia, New Caledonia, and Japan.

Key words

COI, morphology, new record, Scorpaena mcadamsi, Scorpaena moultoni, scorpionfish

Introduction

Scorpaena moultoni Whitley, 1961 was originally described from a single specimen collected north of Wilson Island, Capricorn Group, Queensland, Australia, in a depth of ca 15 m. Allen and Cross (1989) later reported the species from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Although Allen et al. (2006) synonymized S. moultoni with Parascorpaena mcadamsi (Fowler, 1938), without significant justification, Motomura et al. (2011) later validated the taxonomic status of the former, reinstating it as a distinct species, and reported an additional record which extended the known distribution range to New Caledonia. Fricke et al. (2011) provided a detailed distribution within New Caledonia, encompassing Grand Passage (Îles Bélep and northern lagoon) and Grande Terre (northern and southern regions), and subsequent reports from Japan (Tsuno et al. 2022; Mochizuki et al. 2023) have further documented the species off various islands. Based on these published reports, P. moultoni has been considered as widely distributed in the western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands north to Kochi Prefecture in Japan, and southward to northern Australia and New Caledonia.

This study addresses discrepancies between the original description of P. moultoni by Whitley (1961) and features observed in examined specimens, so as to provide a revised morphological description for more accurately distinguishing P. moultoni from other valid species within the genus Parascorpaena. The examination of many voucher specimens confirmed the wide distribution of P. moultoni across the western Pacific Ocean (see below).

Materials and methods

Counts and measurements followed Motomura (2004a, 2004b), Motomura et al. (2005a, 2005b, 2005c, 2006a, 2006b, 2009), and Motomura and Johnson (2006). Standard length (SL), head length (HL), and morphometrics were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using digital calipers. Head spine terminology follows Motomura et al. (2009) and Wibowo and Motomura (2021). Curatorial procedures for KAUM specimens followed Motomura and Ishihara (2013).

Phylogenetic relationships among the two closely related species, Parascorpaena mcadamsi and P. moultoni, with Caracanthus maculatus (Gray, 1831) serving as the outgroup, were elucidated using MEGA 11 software (Tamura et al. 2021). Analysis applied the Kimura 2-parameter model (Kimura 1980) with 1000 bootstrap replications (Felsenstein 1985) to construct a maximum likelihood tree. All cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences used in this study were obtained from BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) and GenBank databases, including some generated from our previous study (Cabebe-Barnuevo et al. 2024), with accession and voucher numbers listed in Table 1.

Table 1.

List of COI sequences utilized in the study.

Species identification BOLD/GenBank accession number Specimen voucher code
Caracanthus maculatus PP683413 KAUM–I. 169070
Parascorpaena mcadamsi LC745944 KAUM–I. 115044
Parascorpaena mcadamsi* PHILA1448-15 USNM 431877
Parascorpaena mcadamsi* PHILV495-15 USNM 436361
Parascorpaena moultoni LC745946 KAUM–I. 72114

Comparative material

Caracanthus maculatus: KAUM–I. 169070, 22.8 mm SL, Nazumado, Okago, Hachijo-jima Island, Izu Islands, Tokyo, Japan, 33°08′25″N, 139°44′11″E, 5–20 m, Y. Dewa and M. C. Sato, 10 June 2022. Parascorpaena armata (Sauvage, 1873): KAUM–I. 66443, 82.1 mm SL, off Maigo Fishing Port, Tanegashima Island, Osumi Islands, Kagoshima, Japan, 30°37′24″N, 130°56′31″E 2–8 m. Parascorpaena aurita (Rüppell, 1838): KAUM–I. 161814, 44.2 mm SL, off Bandokorobana National Park, Beppu, Ei, Minami-kyushu, Kagoshima, Japan, 31°14′50″N, 130°26′E, 0.3 m, N. Kukita, 23 Oct. 2021; MZB 5564, 79.3 mm SL, off Baluran, Situbondo Regency, East Java, Indonesia, July 1984. Parascorpaena maculipinnis Smith, 1957: SAIAB 395, paratype of Parascorpaena maculipinnis, 43.5 mm SL, Mozambique, Sept. 1953. Parascorpaena mcadamsi: KAUM–I. 115044, 43.7 mm SL, south of Kiriishi Port, Suwanee-jima Island, Tokara Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 29°36′34″N, 129°42′50″E, 15–18 m, S. Tashiro et al., 26 Apr. 2018; MZB 26976, 37.1 mm SL, Batu Lompa Island, Tulehu, Ambon Island, Maluku, Indonesia, 03°35′41.2″S, 128°21′16.1″E, 15 m, K. Wibowo, 7 Nov. 2023; MZB 26978, 27.6 mm SL, Hukurila, Ambon Island, Maluku, Indonesia, 03°44′36.4″S, 128°14′29.0″E, 10 m, 12 Nov. 2023, K. Wibowo, 12 Nov. 2023; USNM 98904, holotype of Scorpaena mcadamsi, 37.6 mm SL, vicinity of Jola Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, 06°03′45″N, 120°57′E, 36.6 m, RV Albatross, 5 Mar. 1908. Parascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855): ANSP 162881, 2 specimens, 25.2–38.4 mm SL, off north end of West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, 12°08′36″S, 96°48′55″E, 7–8 m, W. F. Smith-Vaniz et al., 24 Feb. 1974. Parascorpaena picta (Cuvier, 1829): MZB 26990, 82.4 mm SL, Nusi Island, Biak Islands, West Papua, Indonesia, 8 Aug. 1961; NSMT-P 100290, 36.0 mm SL, Dadonghai, Hainan, China, K. Matsuura. Parascorpaena poseidon Chou & Liao, 2022: ANSP 51367, 95.2 mm SL, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines, 17°34′13″N, 120°23′01″E, J. Clemens, 1923.

Museum acronyms

AMSAustralian Museum, Sydney

ANSP Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia

BPBM Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu

CAS/SU California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

KAUM Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima

MZB Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Cibinong

NSMT National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba

ROM Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

SAIAB South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda

URM Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa

USNM Museum Support Center, Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of Natural History, Suitland

Results

Parascorpaena moultoni (Whitley, 1961)

Figs 1, 2, 3; Tables 1, 2
Moulton’s Scorpionfish

Scorpaena moultoni Whitley, 1961: 9, fig. 1 (type locality: north of Wilson Island, Capricorn Group, Queensland, Australia).

Material examined

Holotype. AMS IB. 5062 (Fig. 1A), female, 38.1 mm SL, north of Wilson Island, Capricorn Group, Queensland, Australia, 23°18′S, 151°54′E, 15 m, J. Moulton, 19 Oct. 1960. Paratype. USNM 99013, female, 27.5 mm SL, Davao Gulf, Mindanao, Philippines, 17°05′42″N, 125°39′42″E, 38 m, RV Albatross, 18 Mar. 1908.

Figure 1. 

Parascorpaena moultoni A AMS IB. 5062 (holotype of Scorpaena moultoni), female, 38.1 mm SL, Australia B KAUM–I. 82275, female, 16.7 mm SL, Japan C MZB 26975, male, 35.5 mm SL, Indonesia D KAUM–I. 124499, male, 37.0 mm SL, Japan.

Non-type specimens

46 specimens, 20.4–57.1 mm SL. Japan: KAUM–I. 72114, male, 60.9 mm SL, north of Sanekumisaki, Setouchi, Amami-oshima Island, Amami Islands, Ryukyu Islands, 28°11′43″N, 129°11′32″E, 10–24 m; KAUM–I. 82275, female, 16.7 mm SL, San, Tokunoshima, Tokuno-shima Island, Amami Islands, 27°51′22″N, 128°58′02″E, 1–18 m, H. Motomura et al., 25 Nov. 2015; KAUM–I. 124499, male, 37.0 mm SL, off Segaura, Kushi, Bounotsu, Minami-satsuma, Kagoshima, 31°15′12″N, 130°13′35″E, 6 m, S. Morishita, 17 Dec. 2018; URM-P 4243, female, 21.1 mm SL, southwest reef off Sesoko Island, Okinawa Islands, Ryukyu Islands, 25 Oct. 1974. Taiwan: BPBM 23054, 43.5 mm SL, Yeh-liu, 17 m, J. E. Randall, 26 June 1978; BPBM 23385, 44.4 mm SL, southern end of Mao Pi Tou, 15 m, J. E. Randall et al., 18 July 1978. Philippines: BPBM 22133, male, 39.2 mm SL, Sumilon Island, Cebu, 24–26 m, J. E. Randall, 26 Aug. 1977; BPBM 22456, male, 27.8 mm SL, southwest side of Caban, Luzon, 30 m, J. E. Randall et al., 28 July 1978; BPBM 26511, female, 57.1 mm SL, Negros, south of Dumaguete, 22 m, J. E. Randall and G. W. Tribble, 9 Aug. 1978; USNM 372639, male, 26.9 mm SL, Sombrero Island, Batangas, 13°42′N, 120°49′12″E, 6 m, C. J. Ferraris, 24 Apr. 1980; USNM 372667, 37.7 mm SL, Apo Island, Negros Oriental, 09°04′38″N, 123°16′44″E, 0–40 m, V. Springer et al., 7 June 1978; USNM 372668, 2, 30.6–44.6 mm SL, Bararin Island, Palawan, 10°52′42″N, 120°56′46″E, 0–17 m, V. Springer et al., 24 May 1978; USNM 372704, 24.2 mm SL, Siquijor Island, Visayas, 09°08′30″N, 123°29′20″E, 0–6 m, V. Springer et al., 9 May 1978; USNM 431877, male, 20.4 mm SL, Maricaban Island, Batangas, 13°40′12″N, 120°51′04″E, 3–6 m, K. Carpenter et al., 29 Apr. 2014; USNM 436361, 38.2 mm SL, Verde Island, Batangas, 13°34′02″N, 121°02′31″E, 15–20 m, J. T. Williams et al., 23 Apr. 2015. Micronesia: BPBM 24669, 5, 20.7–31.8 mm SL, Condor Reef, Caroline Islands, 20–25 fa (36.6–45.6 m), R/V Townsend Cromwell, cruise 57, 23 Mar. 1972; CAS 66742, 31.8 mm SL, Ulithi Atoll, Fassarao Island, 09°55′05″N, 139°40′E, 7–25 ft (2.1–7.6 m), B. Daniel, 23 Sept. 1956. Indonesia: MZB 26975, male, 35.5 mm SL, Liran Island, Wetar Islands, Maluku, 08°03′03″S, 125°44′52″E, 12 m, K. Wibowo, 1 Mar. 2022; USNM 218670, 3, 23.9–26.9 mm SL, Kasa Island, Maluku, 03°18′S, 128°07′48″E, 0–1 m, V. Springer et al., 4 Mar. 1974; USNM 218671, 2, 25.4–32.1 mm SL, same data as USNM 218670; USNM 372620, 32.0 mm SL, Halmahera, North Maluku, 01°04′12″N, 127°58′48″E, H. Singou, Apr.–May 1978. Timor-Leste: AMS I. 46120-045, female, 34.2 mm SL, east of Dili, halfway between Hera and Metinaro, 08°31′01″S, 125°42′05″E, M. McGrouther, 23 Sept. 2012; AMS I. 46119-039, 2, female, 27.1–30.7 mm SL, off Metinaro, 08°30′25″S, 125°45′59″E, M. McGrouther, 22 Sept. 2012. Papua New Guinea: CAS 207711, 25.6 mm SL, Madang Harbor, Madang Province, 05°10′51″S, 145°49′41″E, 30–35 ft (9.1–10.7 m), B. Collette, 26 May 1970; USNM 380287, 40.1 mm SL, Massas Island, 05°10′18″S, 145°51′25″E, 0–18 m, V. Springer et al., 6 Nov. 1978. Solomon Islands: ROM 42275, male, 37.1 mm SL, Guadalcanal Island, 09°20′S, 159°45′E, P. Nichols and D. Evans, 24 Apr. 1983; USNM 266477, 32.1 mm SL, New Georgia, W. M. Chapman, 4 June 1944. Vanuatu: AMS I. 17472-048, female, 29.9 mm SL, Efate Island, Malapoa Peninsula, 17°44′S, 168°17′E, G. R. Allen, 22 June 1973. Fiji: BPBM 11354, female, 47.2 mm SL, Viti Levu Island, 18°08′28″S, 178°22′52″E, 8–20 ft (2.4–6.1 m), J. E. Randall et al., 7 Aug. 1971; BPBM 39774, male, 48.0 mm SL, Viti Levu Island, 18°09′35″S, 178°23′58″E, 35–47 ft (10.7–14.3 m), R. L. Pyle et al., 29 Jan. 2002; BPBM 39891, female, 27.7 mm SL, Viti Levu Island, 18°09′51″S, 178°24′01″E, 60 ft (18.3 m), J. L. Earle and D. F. Pence, 31 Jan. 2002; CAS 206979, female, 41.1 mm SL, Viwa Island, 17°12′S, 176°54′E, 70–100 ft (21.3–30.5 m), V. Springer et al., 27 May 1982; CAS 214143, male, 52.5 mm SL, female, 42.8 mm SL, Viti Levu Island, 18°08′38″S, 178°22′49″E, 63 ft (19.2 m), D. W. Greenfield and K. Cole, 2 June 1999; CAS 218624, male, 39.3 mm SL, female, 24.5 mm SL, Viti Levu Island, 18°09′02″S, 178°21′37″E, 10–26 ft (3.0–7.9 m), D. W. Greenfield et al., 12 Feb. 2002; ROM 51930, female, 35.5 mm SL, Great Astrolabe Reef, 18°46′S, 178°28′05″E, R. Winterbottom et al., 5 Apr. 1983.

Diagnosis

A species of Parascorpaena with the following characters: pectoral-fin rays 15–17 (usually 15 or 16); pored lateral-line scales 20–22 (mode 21); scale rows in longitudinal series 40–48 (41); scale rows above lateral line 5–8 (7); scale rows below lateral line 10–12 (12); scale rows between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5 or 6 (6); scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5 or 6 (5); total gill rakers 12–14 (12); two suborbital ridges, each with one spine; origin of first suborbital ridge posterior to origin of second ridge; interorbital ridges well developed posteriorly from middle of eye, forming a broad loop on rear end, enclosed concavity relatively shallow; occipital pit not developed, almost flat; no scales along dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray bases; black botch on spinous portion of dorsal fin in males, usually found along 7th–10th spines.

Description

Measurements of examined specimens, expressed as percentages of SL and HL, provided in Table 2. Body size small, compressed, with numerous widely scattered papillae; body depth greatest at pelvic-fin spine base. Lateral line complete, pored lateral-line scales continuing onto caudal-fin base (except in small specimens). Head size moderate, length less than half SL, with scattered papillae. Snout moderately blunt; dorsal profile steep. Eyes large, diameter slightly greater than snout length. Mouth large, maxilla extending just below posterior margin of eye. Four prominent pairs of mandibular pores on dentary, first pore positioned just behind tip of lower jaw, second along anterior lacrimal spine, third along posterior lacrimal spine, and fourth behind posterior lacrimal spine (before posterior end of maxilla). Teeth on upper jaw villiform; teeth on lower jaw varying among specimens, from entirely villiform to villiform with enlarged or canine-like teeth on frontal area; teeth on palatines small, villiform, in bands; teeth on vomerine villiform, in V-shaped patch. Body entirely covered with cycloid scales (rarely with weak ctenii); body scales not extending to dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray membranes; head mostly naked, a few, small scales behind posterior margin of eye, along posterior end of operculum, and just behind opercular spines; dentary smooth, naked.

Table 2.

Counts and proportional measurements (expressed as percentages of standard and head lengths) of Parascorpaena moultoni.

AMS IB 5062 USNM 99013 Non-type specimens (n = 23)
Holotype of S. moultoni Paratype of S. mcadamsi
Standard length (SL) 38.1 27.5 20.7–57.1
Head length (HL) 17.4 11.4 9.8–25.2
Counts
Dorsal-fin rays XII, 9 XII, 9 XII, 9
Anal-fin rays III, 5 III, 5 III, 5
Pectoral-fin rays (left/right sides) 15/15 16/damaged 15–17/15–17 (mode 16/16)
Pored lateral-line scales 21 20 20–22 (21)
Scale rows in longitudinal series 43 42 40–48 (43)
Scale rows above lateral line 7 6 5–8 (6)
Scale rows below lateral line 10 10 10–12 (11)
Scale rows between 6th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5 5 5–6 (6)
Scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5 5 5–6 (5)
Pre-dorsal-fin scale rows 3 4 3–4 (3)
Total gill rakers 11 13 11–14 (12)
Gill rakers (lower + hypobranchial) 7 8 7–10 (8)
Gill rakers (upper) 4 5 4–5 (4)
Measurements (% SL)
Body depth at pelvic-fin spine base 36.2 36.5 32.4–38.2
Body depth at first anal-fin spine base 30.2 28.3 26.2–33.7
Body width 15.8 13.7 8.2–20.1
Predorsal-fin length 39.4 38.0 36.5–49.3
Preanal-fin length 73.4 73.8 66.3–76.1
Prepelvic-fin length 52.2 41.3 35.2–49.3
Pectoral-fin ray length 32.8 damaged 28.7–45.0
1st dorsal-fin spine length 4.8 8.5 3.5–9.7
2nd dorsal-fin spine length 8.8 13.0 9.2–13.9
3rd dorsal-fin spine length 14.8 17.3 14.2–20.3
4th dorsal-fin spine length 17.6 20.1 15.1–21.1
5th dorsal-fin spine length 17.8 19.4 15.6–20.9
11th dorsal-fin spine length 9.7 10.3 7.6–12.7
12th dorsal-fin spine 14.4 16.3 12.1–17.5
Longest dorsal-fin soft ray length 18.4 damaged 16.9–22.4
1st anal-fin spine length 7.0 10.5 8.5–12.3
2nd anal-fin spine length 21.2 23.0 16.9–27.1
3rd anal-fin spine length 16.5 18.7 15.5–21.2
Longest anal-fin soft ray length 20.2 21.0 18.7–24.9
Pelvic-fin spine length 16.5 17.4 15.7–19.2
Longest pelvic-fin soft ray length 25.2 26.1 22.1–30.2
Caudal-fin length 23.1 24.1 24.8–32.1
Caudal-peduncle depth 9.5 9.8 7.5–11.5
Caudal-peduncle length 13.4 18.2 9.6–16.7
Head length 45.6 41.4 42.2–51.6
Measurements (% HL)
Head width 49.4 55.8 31.4–50.0
Snout length 35.6 27.2 23.4–33.5
Eye diameter 33.2 34.5 28.7–38.8
Interorbital width at vertical midline of eye 12.4 15.4 10.9–17.2
Interorbital width at posterior end of preocular spine base 9.8 14.8 9.7–14.7
Upper-jaw length 46.7 53.3 44.2–55.2
Maxillary depth 14.0 15.6 14.8–20.5
Postorbital length 42.2 46.7 45.7–53.8
Distance between opercular spine tips 13.4 14.5 11.1–15.3
Supraocular-tentacle length 6.9 absent 3.2–30.6

Dorsal-fin spines usually 12 (rarely 13) connected to soft rays; fourth or fifth spine longest; sixth to 11th spine gradually decreasing in size; 12th spine elongated, followed by nine (rarely 8) branched soft rays; second dorsal-fin soft ray usually longest; 7th–10th dorsal spines bearing black blotch in male specimens. Anal-fin spines three, second spine longest; five branched soft rays. Bases of both dorsal- and anal-fin soft rays without scales. Pectoral-fin rays usually 15 or 16 (rarely 17); first (uppermost) ray simple, unbranched; second to fifth or sixth ray branched; lower rays thickened, unbranched; tips of fins reaching beyond origin of anal-fin spine. All pectoral-fin rays in small specimens (e.g., <20.0 mm SL) unbranched. Pelvic-fin length variable, not or just reaching anal-fin spine base.

Nasal spines positioned bilaterally on nasal ridge, extending slightly beyond rim. Preocular spine relatively thick, with broad base, located anteriorly within orbital region. Interorbital ridge originating either from above anterior half of eye, or along preocular spine base, extending beyond posterior eye margin; rear end of ridge forming a broad, very shallow interorbital loop. Occipital pit indistinct, almost flat. Supraocular and postocular spines situated above orbital region, close to one another. Supraocular spines each occasionally bearing a single, variably sized tentacle, sometimes small but usually longer than eye diameter. Tympanic spines simple, just behind postocular spine, usually separated by distance greater than that between parietal and nuchal spines. Parietal and nuchal spines simple, close to one another; parietal spine originating posterior to origin of pterotic spine; nuchal spine originating just behind parietal spine. Sphenotic spine just behind posterior margin of eye, small, usually as unevenly sized pair (rarely single). Pterotic spine simple, attached to skin, situated just behind sphenotic spine. Upper and lower post-temporal spines well-developed, upper spine shorter than and positioned just above lower spine, lower spine situated between pterotic and supracleithral spines. Suborbital with two distinct ridges, a suborbital spine on each ridge. Lacrimal bone dorsally with two distinct ridges; anterior lacrimal ridge located before anterior eye margin, longer than posterior lacrimal ridge; posterior ridge located just behind origin of first suborbital ridge (just below ventral eye margin). Anterior and posterior lacrimal spines located along ventral region of lacrimal bone, simple with no additional spinous points; anterior lacrimal spine prominently antrorse, tip not extending beyond lower lip; posterior lacrimal spine distinctly anteriorly oriented in larger specimens (>24.5 mm SL), ventrally oriented with forward curvature in smaller specimens to ~ 20 mm SL, postero-ventrally oriented in specimens <20 mm SL. Preopercular spines five; first and second along posterior margin of maxilla, covered with thick skin, usually with small tentacles; third to fifth exposed, progressively longer, fifth longest with small anterior supplemental preopercular spine. Opercular spines just behind pre-opercular margin; upper opercular spine slightly longer than lower opercular spine. Supracleithral spine single, short, located between upper and lower post-temporal spines (closer to latter). Cleithral spine simple, base covered by operculum; spinous point not extending beyond posteriormost tip of operculum. Postorbital spine usually absent; if present, lump-like, lacking a spinous point. Median interorbital ridge, coronal spine, ridge on lateral surface of maxilla, antero-dorsal lacrimal spines, and lateral lacrimal spine all absent.

Color of fresh specimens

Based on color photographs of three specimens deposited at KAUM and MZB (Fig. 1B–D). Body variegated, predominantly orange-red with interspersed darker red and white blotches. White areas particularly apparent near dorsal region and caudal peduncle. Head predominantly reddish, with numerous orange and white blotches; underside white with reddish mottling along jawline. Spinous portion of dorsal fin variegated orange, reddish, and white; a distinct black blotch on 7th–10th spines in males. Soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin translucent white, with poorly defined orange-red and white blotches. Pectoral fin translucent with poorly defined reddish and white blotches. Pelvic fin orange-red at base, transitioning to white distally. Anal fin primarily orange-red, with poorly defined white blotches. Caudal fin translucent with three orange-red bands; first band on base, second in middle, and third on distal margin.

Color of preserved specimens

Body and ventral surface yellowish-white. Head typically white; some specimens with poorly defined dark blotches. Spinous portion of dorsal fin translucent; distinct black blotch retained in males. Soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin usually translucent; some specimens with poorly defined dark blotches. Anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins usually entirely translucent, with poorly defined dark blotches in some specimens. Caudal fin generally translucent, dark bands apparent in some specimens.

Distribution

Parascorpaena moultoni has been previously recorded from Queensland, Australia (Whitley 1961; Allen and Cross 1989), New Caledonia (Motomura et al. 2011; Fricke et al. 2011, 2015), and Japan (Motomura 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023; Motomura and Harazaki 2017; Kimura et al. 2017; Nakae et al. 2018; Mochida and Motomura 2018; Tanaka et al. 2020; Jeong and Motomura 2021; Tsuno et al. 2022; Mochizuki et al. 2023). The voucher specimens examined here extended the confirmed distribution of the species to include Taiwan, the Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. 

Geographic distribution of Parascorpaena moultoni in the Pacific Ocean. Type locality (star); previous reports (circles); new records (squares; this study).

Discussion

This study largely corroborated Whitley’s (1961) original description of Scorpaena moultoni. However, although Whitley (1961) described the holotype of Scorpaena moultoni as lacking supraorbital tentacles (supraocular tentacles in this study), examination of the holotype revealed the presence of short tentacles. Furthermore, the condition of the supraocular tentacles varied among other specimens, sometimes being small but more commonly elongated, usually exceeding the eye diameter. Dental morphology also varied among specimens, the upper-jaw teeth being consistently villiform, whereas those on the lower jaw varied from entirely villiform to enlarged or canine-like teeth anteriorly. The sexual dimorphism seen in P. mcadamsi, male specimens having canine-like teeth anteriorly and females only villiform teeth, was not apparent in P. moultoni (see Mochizuki et al. 2023). Although Whitley (1961) described undeveloped sphenotic spines, the holotype of P. moultoni in fact had two well-developed sphenotic spines. Moreover, the non-type specimens examined typically exhibited one or two sphenotic spines, being unequally-sized in the case of two present. Whitley (1961) also noted that the “upper profile behind the eye is not deeply notched”, which refers to the occipital pit, described here as indistinct.

Whitley (1961) initially differentiated P. moultoni from its congeners based on several features, including pale coloration, naked head, short maxillary, large scales, absence of dermal flaps, and presence of a few predorsal scales. However, these characters also occur in other species of Parascorpaena, making them unsuitable for reliable identification of the former. Although Whitley (1961) also mentioned that P. moultoni had two suborbital spines, he did not regard that feature as a significant distinguishing trait. However, after P. moultoni had been synonymized with P. mcadamsi by Allen et al. (2006), it was later reinstated as a distinct species by Motomura et al. (2011), who emphasized the number of suborbital spines as the key differentiating character from P. mcadamsi.

Among the eight valid species of Parascorpaena (see Cabebe-Barnuevo et al. 2024), only P. mcadamsi and P. moultoni exhibit sexual dichromatism, characterized by a black blotch on the 7th–10th dorsal-fin spines in males, such being absent in females (Eschmeyer 1986; Poss 1999; Poss and Motomura 2022; Mochizuki et al. 2023). Examination of the type specimens of P. mcadamsi revealed that one of the two paratypes (USNM 99013) was, in fact, P. moultoni, distinguishable from the holotype by the number of suborbital spines – two in USNM 99013 and three in the holotype (USNM 98904).

Parascorpaena moultoni is clearly differentiated from P. armata, P. mossambica, and P. poseidon by its two suborbital spines and indistinct occipital pit, whereas the latter three species possess three suborbital spines and a well-developed occipital pit. Although P. moultoni shares the same number of suborbital spines with P. aurita and P. picta, it differs in having a single spine on each suborbital ridge, compared to the absence of a spinous point on the first ridge and presence of two spines on the second ridge in the latter two species, and can further be differentiated by the absence of scales below the dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray bases, which are present in P. aurita and P. picta. Moreover, while P. moultoni resembles P. maculipinnis and P. mcadamsi in having an undefined occipital pit, the interorbital ridge posteriorly forming a loop, naked dorsal- and anal-fin soft ray bases, and the origin of the first ridge posterior to the second, the former has only two suborbital spines, compared to the three spines (one on the first ridge and two on the second) found in the latter two species. Consequently, this study affirms that P. moultoni can be consistently distinguished from other species of Parascorpaena based on occipital pit morphology and the number of suborbital spines.

Cabebe-Barnuevo et al. (2024) compared the orientation of the posterior lacrimal spine (PLS) across differing size categories within the genus Parascorpaena and identified three distinct orientations. In the largest individuals, with standard lengths (SLs) of 118.0 mm and 121.4 mm, the PLS was oriented anteriorly. However, in smaller individuals with SLs to 21 mm, the PLS was oriented ventrally with an anterior curvature. The smallest individuals, measuring less than 20 mm SL, exhibited postero-ventral orientation of the PLS. Similar differing orientations of the PLS with size categories were found in P. moultoni, although the largest recorded specimen of that species was substantially smaller at 57.1 mm SL (this study). Specimens of 24.5–57.1 mm SL had an anteriorly oriented PLS, smaller specimens being characterized by either ventral (e.g., 21.08 mm SL) or postero-ventral (e.g., <20 mm SL) orientation. Clearly, similar growth-related variations in PLS orientation are characteristic of species of Parascorpaena, regardless of the maximum size attainable by each.

Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from KAUM specimens, deposited in GenBank, were utilized to verify the identification of some sequences of Parascorpaena. This analysis (Fig. 3) specifically focused on sequences from BOLD and GenBank data originally identified as P. mcadamsi, but which were subsequently determined to represent P. moultoni. Given that P. moultoni was previously regarded as a synonym of P. mcadamsi, it is unsurprising that some sequences in public databases (e.g., BOLD) initially identified as P. mcadamsi are actually of P. moultoni. This study confirmed that sequences with accession numbers PHILA 1448-15 and PHILV 495-15, initially identified as P. mcadamsi, represent a single clade together with the sequence of a verified specimen of P. moultoni (KAUM–I. 72114), being distinct from the sequence of a verified specimen of P. mcadamsi (KAUM–I. 115044). Morphological examination of the voucher specimens for both PHILA 1448-15 and PHILV 495-15 revealed that both specimens had only two suborbital spines, an interorbital ridge forming a loop, an indistinct occipital pit, a black blotch on the 7th–10th dorsal-fin spines, a strongly anteriorly oriented PLS, and cycloid scales, all being consistent with P. moultoni. Clearly, gene sequences in public databases, together with associated voucher specimens, should remain under review so as to lessen the likelihood of mistakenly identified sequences and problems arising therefrom.

Figure 3. 

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of COI sequences using the Kimura 2-parameter model, with Caracanthus maculatus as outgroup. Node values indicate bootstrap support based on 1,000 replicates.

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere gratitude to the staff at various institutions for their invaluable contributions to this study. We thank M. McGrouther, A. Hay, K. Parkinso, and S. Reader (AMS), M. Sabaj and M. Arce (ANSP), A. Y. Suzumoto, C. J. Atta, and L. O’Hara (BPBM), D. Catania and M. Hoang (CAS), G. Shinohara, M. Nakae, K. Fujiwara, and M. Sato (NSMT), R. Winterbottom, D. Stacey, and N. Lujan (ROM), R. Bills, E. Heemstra, O. Gon and M. Dwani (SAIAB), T. Yoshino (formerly URM), and J. Williams, L. Palmer, S. Raredon, K. Murphy, D. Pitassy, K. Bemis, A. Nonaka, and A. Reft (USNM) for opportunities to examine material. We also thank all volunteers, graduates, and students of KAUM for their assistance with specimen collection and curatorial support, and are also grateful to G. Hardy (Ngunguru, New Zealand) for reading the manuscript and assisting with English. We appreciated the invaluable feedback from anonymous reviewers and editors that significantly improved the manuscript. This research forms part of the first author’s dissertation. All authors consented to the publication of this article and inclusion in the dissertation submission.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This study was financially supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 20H03311, 21H03651, 23K20304, and 24K02087; the JSPS Core-to-core CREPSUM JPJSCCB20200009; and the ″Establishment of Glocal Research and Education Network in the Amami Islands″ project of Kagoshima University, adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: RCB, KW, HM. Data curation: RCB, KW, HM. Formal analysis: RCB. Funding acquisition: HM. Investigation: RCB, KW, HM. Resources: KW, HM. Supervision: HM. Visualization: RCB, KW. Project administration: HM. Writing – original draft: RCB. Writing – review and editing: RCB, KW, HM.

Author ORCIDs

Roxanne Cabebe-Barnuevo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6518-7986

Kunto Wibowo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4465-3022

Hiroyuki Motomura https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-2482

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

  • Allen GR, Cross NJ (1989) Scorpaenidae. In: Paxton JR, Hoese DF, Allen GR, Hanley JE (Eds) Zoological catalogue of Australia. Vol. 7. Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 438–452.
  • Allen GR, Cross NJ, Bray DJ, Hoese DF (2006) Scorpaeninae. Scorpionfishes. In: Hoese DF, Bray DJ, Paxton JR, Allen GR (Eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Fishes. Parts 1–3. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, 881–892.
  • Cabebe-Barnuevo R, Mochizuki K, Motomura H (2024) Monophyly and re-definition of the Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Parascorpaena Bleeker 1876 (Scorpaenidae). Ichthyological Research, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-024-00991-z
  • Eschmeyer WN (1986) Family no 149: Scorpaenidae. In: Smith MM, Heemstra PC (Eds) Smiths’ sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, New York, 463–478.
  • Fowler HW (1938) Descriptions of new fishes obtained by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer “Albatross”, chiefly in Philippine seas and adjacent waters. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 85: 31–135. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.85-3032.31
  • Fricke R, Kulbicki M, Wantiez L (2011) Checklist of the fishes of New Caledonia, and their distribution in the southwest Pacific Ocean (Pisces). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie 4: 341–463.
  • Fricke R, Golani D, Appelbaum-Golani B (2015) New record of the Mozambique scorpionfish, Parascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855) (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), from Israel, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 45: 423–425. https://doi.org/10.3750/AIP2015.45.4.12
  • Gray JE (1831) Description of a new genus of percoid fish, discovered by Mr. Samuel Stutchbury, in the Pacific sea, and now in the British Museum. Zoological Miscellany 1: 20.
  • Jeong B, Motomura H (2021) An annotated checklist of marine and freshwater fishes of five islands of Mishima in the Osumi Islands, Kagoshima, southern Japan, with 109 new records. Bulletin of the Kagoshima University Museum 16: 1–116.
  • Kimura M (1980) A simple method for estimating evolutionary rates of base substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. Journal of Molecular Evolution 16: 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731581
  • Kimura Y, Hibino Y, Miki R, Minetoma T, Koeda K (2017) Field guide to fishes of Kuchinoerabu-jima Island in the Osumi Group, Kagoshima, southern Japan, 200 pp.
  • Mochida I, Motomura H (2018) An annotated checklist of marine and freshwater fishes of Tokunoshima island in the Amami Islands, Kagoshima, southern Japan, with 202 new records. Bulletin of the Kagoshima University Museum 10: 1–80.
  • Mochizuki K, Oyama K, Kume G, Motomura H (2023) Review of distributional records of Parascorpaena mcadamsi and P. moultoni (Scorpaenidae) in Japanese waters, and notes on sexual dichromatism and dimorphism of the two species. Ichthy, Natural History of Fishes of Japan 29: 39–57. https://doi.org/10.34583/ichthy.29.0_39
  • Motomura H (2004a) New species of scorpionfish, Scorpaena cocosensis (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the Cocos Islands, Costa Rica, eastern Pacific Ocean. Copeia 2004: 818–824. https://doi.org/10.1643/CI-04-179R
  • Motomura H (2004b) Revision of the scorpionfish genus Neosebastes (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae) with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes 37: 1–76.
  • Motomura H (2013) Scorpaenidae. In: Motomura H, Dewa S, Furuta K, Matsuura K (Eds) Fishes of Iou-jima and Take-shima islands, Mishima, Kagoshima, Japan. The Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima and the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, 36–66.
  • Motomura H (2019) Scorpaenidae, Scorpaeninae. Motomura H, Hagiwara K, Senou H, Nakae M (Eds) Identification guide to fishes of the Amami Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. The Minaminippon Shimbun Kaihatsu Center, Kagoshima, 70–78.
  • Motomura H (2022) Scorpaenidae. In: Iwatsubo H, Itou M, Yamada M, Motomura H (Eds) Field guide to fishes of the East China Sea side of Satsuma Peninsula in Kagoshima, southern Kyushu, Japan. Kagoshima Museum of Aquatic Biodiversity, Kagoshima and the Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima, 71–81.
  • Motomura H (2023) An annotated checklist of marine and freshwater fishes from Tanega-shima and Mage-shima islands in the Osumi Islands, Kagoshima, southern Japan, with 536 new records. Bulletin of the Kagoshima University Museum 20: 1–250.
  • Motomura H, Harazaki S (2017) Annotated checklist of marine and freshwater fishes of Yaku-shima island in the Osumi Islands, Kagoshima, southern Japan, with 129 new records. Bulletin of the Kagoshima University Museum 9: 1–183.
  • Motomura H, Ishihara S (2013) Fish collection building and procedures manual. English edn. The Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima and the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, 70 pp.
  • Motomura H, Fricke R, Eschmeyer WN (2005a) Redescription of a poorly known scorpionfish, Scorpaena canariensis (Sauvage), and a first record of Pontinus leda Eschmeyer from the Northern Hemisphere (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A (Biologie) 674: 1–15.
  • Motomura H, Last PR, Yearsley GK (2005b) Scorpaena bulacephala, a new species of scorpionfish (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the northern Tasman Sea. Zootaxa 1043: 17–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1043.1.2
  • Motomura H, Paulin CD, Stewart AL (2005c) First records of Scorpaena onaria (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and comparisons with the Northern Hemisphere population. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39: 865–880. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2005.9517358
  • Motomura H, Sakurai Y, Senou H, Ho H-C (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: 41–57. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2191.1.2
  • Motomura H, Béarez P, Causse R (2011) Review of Indo-Pacific specimens of the subfamily Scorpaeninae (Scorpaenidae), deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, with description of a new species of Neomerinthe. Cybium 35: 55–73. https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2011-351-006
  • Nakae M, Motomura H, Hagiwara K, Senou H, Koeda K, Yoshida T, Tashiro S, Jeong B, Hata H, Fukui Y, Fujiwara K, Yamakawa T, Aizawa M, Shinohara G, Matsuura K (2018) An annotated checklist of fishes of Amami-oshima Island, the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Memoirs of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo 52: 205–361.
  • Peters W (1855) Übersicht der in Mossambique beobachteten seefische. Monatsschr Akad Wiss Berlin 1855: 428–466.
  • Poss GS (1999) Scorpaenidae. Scorpionfishes (also, lionfishes, rockfishes, stingfishes, stonefishes, and waspfishes). In: Carpenter KE, Niem VH (Eds) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the western central Pacific. Vol. 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome, 2291–2352.
  • Poss SG, Motomura H (2022) Family Scorpaenidae, scorpionfishes and lionfishes. In: Heemstra PC, Heemstra E, Ebert DA, Holleman W, Randall JE (Eds) Coastal fishes of the western Indian Ocean. Vol. 2. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, 506–549.
  • Rüppell WPES (1835–1838) Neue wirbelthiere zu der fauna von Abyssinien gehörig. Fische des Rothen Meeres. Siegmund Schmerber, Frankfurt-am-Main, 148 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.53778
  • Tanaka S, Shitamitsu T, Senou H, Miyazaki Y (2020) Fish fauna of Tokashiku Bay, Tokashiki, the Kerama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture: Additional records of 144 species. Bulletin of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum (Natural Science) 49: 107–118.
  • Tsuno Y, Yuki D, Motomura H, Endo H (2022) First specimen-based records of five species of the family Scorpaenidae from Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Ichthy, Natural History of Fishes of Japan 17: 79–87. https://doi.org/10.34583/ichthy.17.0_79
  • Whitley GP (1961) A new scorpion fish from Queensland. North Queensland Naturalist 29: 9–10.
  • Wibowo K, Motomura H (2021) Review of Indo-Pacific species of the scorpionfish genus Scorpaena (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species from the west coast of Australia. Ichthyological Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-021-00827-0
login to comment