Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish, Rhinopias eschmeyeri Condé, 1977

Scientific name: Rhinopias eschmeyeri
Alternative name/s:
Paddleflap
Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish Click to enlarge image
An Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish at a depth of 10m, Lembeh, Indonesia, 25 June 2009. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Rhinopias
    Species
    eschmeyeri
    Family
    Scorpaenidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Identification

Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish lacks disitinct markings but has a single black spot on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. There are two tentacles on the underside of the lower jaw.

Rhinopias frondosa has two or more pairs of tentacles on the underside of lower jaw and a strongly notched dorsal fin.

Habitat

It is a benthic species that is usually seen on sandy areas of coral reefs.

Distribution

The species has an Indo-west Pacific distribution.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Motomura, H. & J.W. Johnson, 2006. Validity of the poorly known scorpionfish, Rhinopias eschmeyeri, with redescriptions of R. frondosa and R. aphanes(Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae). Copeia (3): 500-515.