style="font-size:15px;"> 3 COD VELVETFISH
Peristrominous dolosus Whitley, 1952
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by elongate brown body without distinct markings and pointed snout; N. Australia only; to 9 cm. (APLOACTINIDAE)
4 MARBLED STINGFISH
Cottapistus cottoides (Cuvier, 1829)
Inhabits deep offshore reefs and trawling grounds; distinguished by forward position (over eye) of dorsal fin origin, hump on snout, and very small scales; N.W. Australia, Gulf of Carpentaria, and scattered localities in Indo-Malay region; mainly W. Pacific, to 12 cm.
5 NORTHERN SCORPIONFISH
Parascorpaena picta (Cuvier, 1829)
Inhabits crevices of coral and rocky reefs; distinguished by well camouflaged appearance with skin flaps and tentacles on head and body, 12 dorsal spines, and spine above upper jaw that curves forward; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 16 cm
6 GUAM SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaenodes guamensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by dark spot on upper part of gill cover and 13 dorsal spines; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 12 cm.
7 ORNATE SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaenodes varipinnis Smith, 1957
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by red colour with white blotches on head and along middle of sides, a curved dark band across pectoral fin and 13 dorsal spines; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 7 cm.
8 LITTLE SCORPIONCOD
Scorpaenodes sp.
Inhabits coral reef crevices, distinguished by red or brown spots on fins, pale bar across tail base, lack of dark spot on gill cover, and 13 dorsal spines; possibly a colour variation of 9 below; W. Australia; to 8 cm.
9 PYGMY SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaenodes scaber (Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886)
Inhabits coastal and estuaries reefs; similar to 6 above, but has dark spot (darker than shown) on lower edge of gill cover instead of upper part; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 8 cm.
10 RAGGY SCORPION FISH
Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829)
Inhabits coral reef crevices; distinguished by skin flaps and tentacles on head and body; relatively tall dorsal fin, and 12 dorsal spines, juveniles usually more ornate as shown; N.W. Australia and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 18 cm.
11 FALSE STONEFISH
Scorpaenopsis diabolus (Cuvier, 1829)
Inhabits coral reef crevices and rubble bottoms; distinguished by well camouflaged appearance, humped back, and bright yellow-orange patch on inner surface (not shown) of pectoral fins; often confused with the true stonefish (Synanceja), which is far more venomous; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 18 cm.
12 WHITE-BELLIED ROUGEFISH
Richardsonichthys leucogaster (Richardson, 1848)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by laterally compressed body, forward position (above rear part of eye) of dorsal fin origin, relatively large eye, and complete lack of scales; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 8 cm.
13 LEAF SCORPIONFISH
Taenianotus triacanthus Lacepède, 1802
Inhabits offshore coral reefs; distinguished by thin leaf-like body and tall dorsal fin, several colour varieties encountered including ones that are predominantly reddish, yellow, or black; offshore reefs of W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 10 cm.
14 DEEPSEA SCORPIONFISH
Setarches guentheri Johnston, 1862
Inhabits offshore trawling grounds, distinguished by overall red colour without distinct marks, relatively pointed snout, very stout spines on edge of cheek, and 12 dorsal spines; N.W. Australia; worldwide in tropical seas; to 23 cm.
PLATE 21
1 SANDPAPER VELVETFISH
Adventor elongatus (Whitley, 1952)
Inhabits trawling grounds; distinguished by elongate body shape and bony knobs on head, similar to 5 below, but dorsal fin begins further back on head; N. Australia only; to 11 cm. (APLOACTINIDAE)
2 DUSKY VELVETFISH
Aploactis aspersa (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
Inhabits trawling grounds; has longer anal fin base than other velvet fishes on this page; colour sometimes brown; found throughout the region, but rare; E. Indian Ocean and W. Pacific; to 9 cm. (APLOACTINIDAE)
SCORPIONFISH COLOURS
The coloration of many of the scorpionfishes shown on this plate is extremely variable, depending on size, depth, and habitat; it is not unusual for the same species to exhibit very different patterns at a particular locality. For example the Northern Scorpionfish (5) is often mottled brown when found among rocks in shallow weedy areas, and red (as shown) if seen in caves on deeper sections of the reef.
SCORPIONFISHES AND ALLIED FAMILIES
The families featured on Plates 19-21 are members of the order Scorpaeniformes. They are distinguished by a bony ridge on the cheek and the head is frequently spiny or tassled. All are bottom living fishes that occur in a variety of depths and habitats. They often exhibit variegated colour patterns that blend well with their surroundings.
PLATE 21: VELVETFISHES, GURNARDS, AND FLATHEADS
1 SANDPAPER VELVETFISH
Adventor elongatus (Whitley, 1952). Text on previous page.
2 DUSKY VELVETFISH
Aploactis aspersa (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844). Text on previous page.
3 THIN VELVETFISH
Coccotropus sp.
Inhabits trawling grounds and sandy areas near reefs; distinguished by laterally compressed body, steep forehead, and tall anterior part of dorsal fin that begins above eye; similar to some scorpionfishes (Plates 19-20) but has bony knobs (versus spines) on head and body covered with prickles, possibly N.W. Australia only; to 5 cm. (APLOACTINIDAE)
4 THREEFIN VELVETFISH
Neoaploactis tridorsalis Eschmeyer & Allen, 1978 Inhabits sand
