Redescription of a Poorly Known Southeastern Pacific Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Phenacoscorpius eschmeyeri Parin and Mandrytsa

Abstract

A poorly known scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Phenacoscorpius eschmeyeri Parin and Mandrytsa, 1992, has been known only from the holotype from the Sala y Gomez Ridge, southeastern Pacific Ocean. Two new specimens of the species, collected from the Nazca Ridge, near the type locality, and found in the fish collection of the Hokkaido University Museum, are described in detail. The holotype was also reexamined. The two diagnostic characters of the species given in the original description to separate it from a related congener, Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939, were found to be invalid, but a new series of diagnostic characters was found. A revised diagnosis of the species is thereupon provided. A color photograph of P. eschmeyeri when fresh is published for the first time.