IRACUNDUS SIGNIFER - (JORDAN & EVERMANN, 1903)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Perciformes (Order) > Scorpaenoidei (Suborder) > Scorpaenidae (Family) > Scorpaeninae (Subfamily) > Iracundus (Genus)
Poisson-scorpion à piège, Decoy scorpionfish, Lokaas-skerpioenvis, Hatatatekasago, ハタタテカサゴ, 斑点红鲉, 斑點紅鮋,
Synonymes
Iracundus signifer rarotongae (Whitley, 1965)
Iracundus sinifer (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
Scorpaena asperella (Bennett, 1828)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5; Pectoral fin rays: 17-19 (usually: 18); Vertical scale rows: 65-75. Lachrymal bone with two spines over maxillary, first points forward, second broad, pointing out and to rear; Suborbital ridge without spines except one at rear before opercle; Preopercular spines short, usually only 3 developed; No supplemental preopercular spine at base of first spine; Palatine teeth absent; Scale ctenoid. The fourth dorsal spine is characteristically elongate in specimens over about 50 or 60 mm. Max. length: 13.0 cm TL. Depth range: 20 - 110 m.
Color
Dark spot on the spinous dorsal fin between spines 1-2 or 1-3. The reddish-orange to white coloring covering most of the fish's body.
Etymology
Iracundus: from Latin, īrācundus = passionate, wrathful (red with anger). Referring to vermilion body color in life.
signifer: from Latin, signum = visible indication: sign, mark, signal + from Latin, ferō = I bear, carry. Referring to single jet-black spot about half diameter of pupil near tip of membrane between second and third spines of dorsal fin.
Orignal description: Iracundus signifer Jordan & Evermann, 1903 - Type locality: Honolulu, Oahu Island, Hawaiian Islands.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, Comoros and Madagascar to western Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius); Taiwan north to Izu Islands (Japan); New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands; Cook Islands to Pitcairn Group, south to Rapa (probably more widespread).
Biology
Found on sand and rubble under ledges of seaward reefs. Benthic. The dorsal fin mimics a tiny fish and is used as a lure. Anterolateral glandular groove with venom gland.
Last update: 23, March 2023
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Perciformes (Order) > Scorpaenoidei (Suborder) > Scorpaenidae (Family) > Scorpaeninae (Subfamily) > Iracundus (Genus)
Poisson-scorpion à piège, Decoy scorpionfish, Lokaas-skerpioenvis, Hatatatekasago, ハタタテカサゴ, 斑点红鲉, 斑點紅鮋,
Synonymes
Iracundus signifer rarotongae (Whitley, 1965)
Iracundus sinifer (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
Scorpaena asperella (Bennett, 1828)
------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5; Pectoral fin rays: 17-19 (usually: 18); Vertical scale rows: 65-75. Lachrymal bone with two spines over maxillary, first points forward, second broad, pointing out and to rear; Suborbital ridge without spines except one at rear before opercle; Preopercular spines short, usually only 3 developed; No supplemental preopercular spine at base of first spine; Palatine teeth absent; Scale ctenoid. The fourth dorsal spine is characteristically elongate in specimens over about 50 or 60 mm. Max. length: 13.0 cm TL. Depth range: 20 - 110 m.
Color
Dark spot on the spinous dorsal fin between spines 1-2 or 1-3. The reddish-orange to white coloring covering most of the fish's body.
Etymology
Iracundus: from Latin, īrācundus = passionate, wrathful (red with anger). Referring to vermilion body color in life.
signifer: from Latin, signum = visible indication: sign, mark, signal + from Latin, ferō = I bear, carry. Referring to single jet-black spot about half diameter of pupil near tip of membrane between second and third spines of dorsal fin.
Orignal description: Iracundus signifer Jordan & Evermann, 1903 - Type locality: Honolulu, Oahu Island, Hawaiian Islands.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, Comoros and Madagascar to western Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius); Taiwan north to Izu Islands (Japan); New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands; Cook Islands to Pitcairn Group, south to Rapa (probably more widespread).
Biology
Found on sand and rubble under ledges of seaward reefs. Benthic. The dorsal fin mimics a tiny fish and is used as a lure. Anterolateral glandular groove with venom gland.
Last update: 23, March 2023