Rhinopias argoliba, the argoliba scorpionfish or Japanese scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Western Pacific.[1]
| Rhinopias argoliba | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: | Rhinopias |
| Species: | R. argoliba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhinopias argoliba | |
Taxonomy
editRhinopias argoliba was first formally described in 1973 by William N. Eschmeyer, Yoshitsugu Hirosake and Tokiharu Abe with the type locality given as off Izu Ocean Park in Sagami Bay in Japan.[2] The specific name argoliba is a compound of argos which means “white” and libos meaning “tear” or “drop”, an allusion to the milky-white teardrop shaped marking underneath its eye.[3]
Description
editRhinopias argoliba has an overall reddish colour with a white teardrop shaped marking below the eye, extending from the eye to the rear of the upper jaw. There is also a white spot on the upper flank above the posterior margin of the pectoral fin. Compared to its congeners this species has a low dorsal fin and fewer flaps and tentacles on its skin. There are 18 fin rays in the pectoral fins.[4] This species attains a maximum total length of 15 cm (5.9 in).[1]
Distribution and habitat
editRhinopias argoliba has a rather disparate known distribution in the western Pacific. It was originally only recorded from southern Japan, its type locality,[1] but more recently it has been found in the Coral Sea off Australia.[5] This is a demersal species found in rocky habitats.[1]
Biology
editRhinopias argoliba, like other scorpionfishes, is predatory, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans.[1] They tend to move by walking on the substrate using their pectoral fins as if they were hands.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Rhinopais argoliba". FishBase. August 2021 version.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Rhinopias". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Bray, D.J. (2021). "Rhinopias argoliba". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ a b Nicole Helgason (25 September 2020). "Scientist In Australia Discover New Coral And Spot A Rare Rhinopias In Comprehensive Deep-Sea Study". reefbuilders. Retrieved 31 January 2022.