Abstract
The scorpionfish Scorpaena decemradiata n. sp. is described from off the coast of Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea. The new species is similar to S. porcus Linnaeus, 1758, but is characterized by dorsal fin spines XII, soft dorsal fin rays 10 (the last divided at base); pectoral fin rays 16, uppermost branched pectoral fin ray is the second; lacrimal with 2 spines over maxilla that point at nearly right angle from each other, the posterior pointing ventrally and slightly anteriorly; occipital pit well developed; anteriormost mandibular lateral-line pores small, separated; scales ctenoid; 59-62 scale rows in longitudinal series; scales absent on chest and pectoral fin base; and cirri developed over entire head and body, but no cirri on lower jaw. An updated checklist of the species of the genus Scorpaena Linnaeus, 1758 and a key to the species of the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea are presented.
Highlights
The scorpionfishes of the genus Scorpaena Linnaeus, 1758 are mostly distributed in warm temperate seas, and occasionally in tropical seas, around the world
The new species is similar to S. porcus Linnaeus, 1758, but is characterized by dorsal fin spines XII, soft dorsal fin rays 10; pectoral fin rays 16, uppermost branched pectoral fin ray is the second; lacrimal with 2 spines over maxilla that point at nearly right angle from each other, the posterior pointing ventrally and slightly anteriorly; occipital pit well developed; anteriormost mandibular lateral-line pores small, separated; scales ctenoid; 59-62 scale rows in longitudinal series; scales absent on chest and pectoral fin base; and cirri developed over entire head and body, but no cirri on lower jaw
The genus includes a total of 61 valid species (Fricke et al 2018). It is characterized within the family Scorpaenidae by the dorsal rays normally XII, 9 (7-10, 8 or 10 normal for some species), anal rays normally III, 5; pectoral rays 16-21, some rays branched, the branching usually compound in larger specimens; swimbladder absent; vertebrae 24; scales on body cycloid or ctenoid; occipital pit usually present, never flat or convex; palatine teeth present; ventral margin of lacrimal bone usually with numerous spines; posterior lacrimal spine absent or not hooked forward; no slit behind fourth gill arch; scales on pectoral fin base reduced or absent; lateral line normal, continuing onto or near base of caudal fin; pored lateral-line scales forming relatively complete tubes; and peritoneum pale (Eschmeyer 1969; Poss 1999; modified)
Summary
The scorpionfishes of the genus Scorpaena Linnaeus, 1758 are mostly distributed in warm temperate seas, and occasionally in tropical seas, around the world. They inhabit benthic habitats, mostly dwelling on rocky reefs. The genus includes a total of 61 valid species (Fricke et al 2018). When examining specimens of Scorpaena from the Gulf of Aqaba, our attention was drawn to the identity of specimens previously misidentified as Scorpaena porcus We found these specimens to be distinct from populations in the Mediterranean Sea, prompting our examination of other previous records of S. porcus, allegedly from the Red Sea. We found these specimens to be distinct from populations in the Mediterranean Sea, prompting our examination of other previous records of S. porcus, allegedly from the Red Sea The analysis of these individuals demonstrated that the Gulf of Aqaba population represents a separate species, which is described in the present paper
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