Biogeography 18.
23–28. Sep. 20, 2016

First records of the deepwater scorpionfish,
Lioscorpius trifasciatus (Setarchidae), from outside Australian waters
Hiroyuki Motomura1*, Romain Causse2 and Carl D. Struthers3
1

The Kagoshima University Museum, 1-21-30 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan2
UMR 7208, Département “Milieux et peuplements aquatiques”,
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
3
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P. O. Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract.

Lioscorpius trifasciatus, originally described from 16 specimens taken from Australian territory

in the Tasman and Coral seas, is now reported from New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji with 224 additional
specimens. A revised species’ diagnosis is provided based on these new specimens, along with fresh colour
photographs.
Key words: Setarchidae, Lioscorpius, distribution, southwestern Pacific.

paper presents a revised diagnosis to L. trifasciatus

Introduction

after further examination of colouration (based on
Lioscorpius trifasciatus was originally de-four fresh specimens) and morphometrics (based on

scribed by Last et al. (2005) as a second species of

35 specimens) from recently collected specimens.

Lioscorpius Günther, 1880 from off eastern Australia in the Tasman and Coral seas, based on 16 speci-

Material and methods

mens (holotype, 12 paratypes and 3 non-types). This
species is easily distinguished from L. longiceps

Counts and measurements followed Motomura

Günther, 1880 by having three spines and five soft

(2004) and Last et al. (2005), with the exception ofrays in the anal fin, versus two spines and six rays ingill-raker counts which included rudiments. The last

L. longiceps (Last et al., 2005).

two soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins are counted

During reviews of scorpionfish specimens de-as single rays, each pair being associated with a sin-posited at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

gle pterygiophore. Standard length is expressed asin Paris (Motomura et al., 2011a) and Museum of

SL. Full counts and measurements of 35 specimens

New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellingtonof Lioscorpius trifasciatus in good condition were(Motomura et al., 2011b), we found 224 additionaltaken (Table 1), for the remaining 189 specimens

specimens of L. trifasciatus which were collected

identifications were confirmed, but data was not in-from New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji in the south-

cluded in the diagnosis.

western Pacific Ocean. These specimens represent

Institutional codes used in this paper are as fol-

the first records from outside Australian waters. This

lows: CSIRO (Australian National Fish Collection———————————————————————

at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial*Corresponding author: motomura@kaum.kagoshima-u.ac.jp

Research Organisation’s Marine and Atmospheric− 23 −

First records of the deepwater scorpionfish, Lioscorpius trifasciatus (Setarchidae), from outside Australian waters

Research laboratories in Hobart, Australia), KAUM

2010-0652, 26.4 mm SL.

(Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima,
Japan), MNHN (Muséum national d’Histoire na-

Lioscorpius trifasciatus Last,

turelle, Paris, France), and NMNZ (Museum ofYearsley & Motomura, 2005

New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New[English name: Tripleband Scorpionfish]

Zealand). The following specimens of Lioscorpius(Figs. 1–2, Table 1)

longiceps (116 specimens, 26.4–138.5 mm SL)
were examined for comparative purposes: PHILIP-

Lioscorpius trifasciatus Last, Yearsley & Moto-PINES: MNHN 2005-0529, 4, 53.3–53.8 mm SL;

mura, 2005: 13, fig. 1 (type locality: south of Sau-

MNHN 2005-0569, 104.8 mm SL; MNHN 2005-

marez Reef, Coral Sea, 22°34–35′S, 153°37–40′E).

0602, 8, 47.0–55.2 mm SL; MNHN 2005-0642, 10,
43.2–58.5 mm SL; MNHN 2005-0664, 3, 63.4–72.0

Material examined. 35 specimens (61.6–124.5mm SL; MNHN 2005-0692, 3, 45.0–64.2 mm SL;

mm SL) (counts and measurements: Table 1) —MNHN 2005-0699, 2, 41.8–49.9 mm SL; MNHNNEW CALEDONIA: KAUM–I. 47112, 119.4 mm

2005-0706, 4, 48.8–61.3 mm SL. SOLOMON IS-

SL, 23°00′07″S, 168°22′01″E, 372–393 m, RV Alis,

LANDS: MNHN 2005-2513, 122.1 mm SL; MNHN

3 Nov. 2003; MNHN 2011-0091, 9, 75.6–103.5

2005-3468, 62.2 mm SL; MNHN 2006-0070, 7,mm SL, 22°13′01″S, 167°13′59″E, 500–510 m,

92.7–138.5 mm SL; MNHN 2006-0084, 8, 55.6–

RV Vauban, 2 Oct. 1985. VANUATU: KAUM–I.

113.6 mm SL; MNHN 2006-0238, 5, 70.7–101.9

47110, 74.3 mm SL, KAUM–I. 47111, 79.8 mm SL,

mm SL; MNHN 2006-0291, 52.6 mm SL; MNHN

15°33′47″S, 167°19′30″E, 167–367 m, RV Alis, 14

2006-0504, 39.1 mm SL; MNHN 2006-0515, 109.6

Sept. 2006; KAUM–I. 47116, 78.0 mm SL, KAUM–mm SL; MNHN 2006-0574, 4, 45.9-62.9 mm SL;

I. 47115, 82.1 mm SL, KAUM–I. 47117, 81.2

MNHN 2006-0625, 2, 93.4-99.9 mm SL; MNHN

mm SL, KAUM–I. 47118, 72.9 mm SL, KAUM–

2006-0708, 2, 100.4–108.4 mm SL; MNHN 2006-

I. 47119, 74.6 mm SL, KAUM–I. 47120, 74.2 mm

0736, 45, 38.5–107.5 mm SL. FIJI: MNHN 2002-

SL, KAUM–I. 47121, 77.7 mm SL, KAUM–I.

3080, 2, 27.5–29.4 mm SL. VANUATU: MNHN

47122, 112.7 mm SL, KAUM–I. 47123, 110.4 mm

Fig. 1. Preserved specimen of Lioscorpius trifasciatus from Vanuatu (MNHN 1998-0023, 113.3 mm SL).

− 24 −

Hiroyuki Motomura, Romain Causse and Carl D. Struthers

Table 1. Counts and measurements of Lioscorpius trifasciatus. Modes for counts and means (including data for smaller specimens) for
measurements are in parentheses. Morphometric characters are expressed as percentages of standard length.

Standard length (mm)Dorsal-fin rays
Anal-fin rays
Pectoral-fin rays
Pelvic-fin rays
Lateral-line scales
Gill rakers (upper)1
Gill rakers (lower)1Gill rakers (total)1
Body depth
Body width
Head length
Head width
Snout length
Orbit diameter
Interorbital width 2Interorbital width3
Upper-jaw length
Maxilla depth
Between tips of opercular spines
Between ventral margin of orbit and suborbital ridge
Postorbital length
Predorsal-fin length
Preanal-fin length
Prepelvic-fin length
1st dorsal-fin spine length
2nd dorsal-fin spine length
3rd dorsal-fin spine length
4th dorsal-fin spine length
5th dorsal-fin spine length
11th dorsal-fin spine length
12th dorsal-fin spine length
Longest dorsal-fin soft ray length
1st anal-fin spine length
2nd anal-fin spine length
3rd anal-fin spine length
Longest anal-fin soft ray length
Pectoral-fin length
Pelvic-fin spine length
Longest pelvic-fin soft ray length
Caudal-fin length
Caudal-peduncle length
Caudal-peduncle depth

New Caledonia, Vanuatu and FijiNon-typesn = 20n = 15
61.6–88.5
90.7–124.5
XII, 9–10 (10)III, 5
21–25 (23)I, 5
24–25 (25)
5–6 (6)
9–13 (11)15–19 (17)22.6–27.3
22.4–28.0 (25.1)
15.1–18.4
15.8–20.4 (17.1)
40.5–44.3
40.3–42.9 (41.9)
11.5–13.9
10.9–12.5 (12.1)
11.4–13.2
12.0–14.1 (12.7)
9.0–11.2
8.0–9.8 (9.6)
5.3–6.4
5.4–6.7 (5.9)
6.6–8.0
6.9–8.0 (7.4)
20.3–23.5
20.1–21.7 (21.5)
6.3–7.1
5.8–6.5 (6.5)
4.2–5.3
4.2–5.2 (4.7)
0.9–1.8
1.3–1.9 (1.5)
19.5–21.5
19.3–21.7 (20.4)
34.3–41.4
37.2–40.0 (38.6)
67.2–72.6
64.4–74.3 (70.3)
35.7–39.2
35.2–42.6 (37.7)
6.3–7.5
7.2–8.8 (7.2)
9.9–12.0
10.1–13.5 (11.3)
15.4–18.3
15.7–18.0 (16.8)
16.8–20.6
18.2–21.0 (19.0)
15.3–19.1
16.1–20.3 (17.8)
1.4–2.3
1.7–2.0 (1.9)
10.7–13.9
8.6–13.6 (12.0)
17.4–19.3
17.4–19.3 (18.5)
4.7–6.6
5.2–6.3 (5.8)
12.3–16.4
10.9–15.0 (13.7)
14.5–17.9
12.2–17.3 (15.4)
16.4–18.8
15.3–18.1 (17.4)
32.0–37.5
32.6–40.5 (35.8)
13.4–16.0
11.2–15.9 (14.2)
18.5–21.5
18.7–22.5 (20.4)
24.9–29.2
24.0–27.9 (26.6)
18.4–20.8
17.6–20.8 (19.6)
7.2–9.1
7.2–8.9 (8.1)

1Australia (Last et al., 2005)
Holotype
Paratypes
CSIRO H 601-18
n =5
111.8
96.5–115.2
XII, 10
XII, 10
III, 5
III, 5
23
23–24
I, 5
I, 5
24
24-25
3
3
10
10
13
13
22.2
20.6–22.8
16.7
15.1–18.7
41.8
38.7–42.3——
13.1
12.4–13.2
8.0
7.4–8.2
5.5
5.3–5.9——
20.7
19.1–20.1
5.9
5.3–6.1
—
—
—
—
20.8
19.1–21.0
38.8
36.2–37.9
71.6
69.9–72.8
35.4
35.5–41.7
7.6
6.6–8.4
10.2
10.2–11.5
15.2
14.2–16.7
16.6
16.3–17.5
20.6
15.0–18.2——
9.7
8.6–10.0
16.8
16.1–16.8
5.6
5.0–6.6
12.1
10.4–12.7
13.1
11.5–13.2
16.5
14.0–15.2
34.1
35.2–36.0
12.5
12.0–14.4
18.6
18.7–19.8
20.9
22.2–23.6
18.9
19.0–19.7
6.9
7.1–7.4

Rudiments on gill arches are not counted in type series (Last et al., 2005); 2at vertical midline of eye; 3at posterior end of preocular spinebase.

− 25 −

First records of the deepwater scorpionfish, Lioscorpius trifasciatus (Setarchidae), from outside Australian waters

Fig. 2. Fresh specimens of Lioscorpius trifasciatus from the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A, MNHN 2008-1291, 64.8 mm SL, Vanuatu; B,
MNHN 2008-1242, 72.7 mm SL, Vanuatu; C, MNHN 2008-1290, 76.4 mm SL, Vanuatu; D, NMNZ P. 035358, 88.5 mm SL, Fiji(defrosted specimen).

SL, 15°07′59″S, 167°16′59″E, 470–502 m, RV Alis,

475–480 m, RV Alis, 23 Sept. 1994; MNHN 1998-

6 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0023, 11, 61.6–113.3

0027, 91.7 mm SL, 19°21′S, 169°25′E, 433–450m,

mm SL, same data as KAUM–I. 47116; KAUM–I.

RV Alis, 22 Sept. 1994; MNHN 1998-0028, 10,47113, 114.5 mm SL, KAUM–I. 47114, 124.5 mm

59.9–130.2 mm SL, 15°40′01″S, 167°01′01″E,

SL, 19°21′00″S, 169°28′01″E, 492-520 m, RV Alis,

398–400 m, RV Alis, 11 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-

22 Sept. 1994. FIJI: NMNZ P.035358, 88.5 mm SL,

0030, 3, 97.6–133.7 mm SL, same data as KAUM–

16°34′48–54″S, 178°20′24–29′24″E, 350 m, B. Wa-

I. 47113; MNHN 1998-0031, 3, 93.2–113.4 mm SL,

ter, FV Seafire, 23 Jan. 1998.

15°06′00″S, 166°52′59″E, 315–360 m, RV Alis, 9

Additional material. 189 specimens (31.1–133.6

Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0032, 3, 107.0–111.2 mm

mm SL) — NEW CALEDONIA: MNHN 2004-

SL, 17°52′59″S, 168°39′00″E, 550–571 m, RV Alis,

2623, 129.1 mm SL, 23°00′54″S, 168°22′01″E, 396–

28 Sept. 1994; MNHN 1998-0033, 113.9 mm SL,

405 m, RV Alis, 3 Nov. 2003; MNHN 2004-2782, 2,

15°01′01″S, 166°55′59″E, 532–599 m, RV Alis, 964.8–71.6 mm SL, same data as KAUM–I. 47112;

Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0073, 10, 106.3–119.3 mm

MNHN 2004-2853, 2, 92.8–109.8 mm SL, 23°22′

SL, 16°39′00″S, 168°01′59″E, 469–525 m, RV Alis,

08″S, 168°00′00″E, 383–393 m, RV Alis, 1 Nov.

1 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0074, 16, 36.3–65.6 mm

2003. VANUATU: MNHN 1998-0072, 3, 39.6–53.7

SL, 15°10′01″S, 167°13′59″E, 394–421 m, RV Alis,

mm SL, 15°52′59″S, 167°27′00″E, 944–956 m, RV

6 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0075, 8, 31.1–42.1 mm

Alis, 4 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0021, 3, 90.9–99.3

SL, 15°10′01″S, 167°13′01″E, 344–350 m, RV Alis,

mm SL, 19°21′00″S, 169°27′00″E, 460–480 m, RV

6 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0076, 10, 84.0–117.9 mm

Alis, 22 Sept. 1994; MNHN 1998-0022, 40, 64.6–

SL, 15°07′01″S, 166°52′59″E, 282–321 m, RV Alis,

136.6 mm SL, 15°07′59″S, 167°16′59″E, 494–516

9 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0077, 7, 57.6–77.4 mm

m, RV Alis, 6 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0023, 11,

SL, 15°40′59″S, 167°01′59″E, 360–371 m, RV Alis,

65.5–118.6 mm SL, 15°07′59″S, 167°16′59″E, 470–

11 Oct. 1994; MNHN 2005-3350, 7, 47.8–82.9 mm

502 m, RV Alis, 6 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1998-0025,

SL, 15°06′04″S, 166°55′01″E, 215–300 m, RV Alis,

91.0 mm SL, 17°49′01″S, 168°39′00″E, 385–410

16 Nov. 2004; MNHN 2005-3364, 4, 73.2–76.9 mm

m, RV Alis, 28 Sept. 1994; MNHN 1998-0026, 2,

SL, MNHN 2005-3395, 81.5 mm SL, 15°05′10″S,100.4–109.1 mm SL, 19°21′00″S, 169°27′00″E,

166°55′01″E, 190–333 m, RV Alis, 16 Nov. 2004;− 26 −

Hiroyuki Motomura, Romain Causse and Carl D. Struthers

MNHN 2008-1242, 72.7 mm SL, 15°33′47″S,

trifasciatus is most likely to vary within the species,

167°19′30″E, 167–367 m, RV Alis, 14 Sept. 2006;

or is able to change in response to biotic or abiotic

MNHN 2008-1290, 76.4 mm SL, MNHN 2008-

factors, a trait well known in scorpionfishes (e.g.,

1291, 64.8 mm SL, 15°40′30″S, 167°01′30″E, 366–

Motomura et al., 2010). The colour differences may

389 m, RV Alis, 17 Sept. 2006; MNHN 2008-1611,

represent species or population level characteristics,

13, 67.9–82.9 mm SL, 15°39′S, 167°01′E, 275–290

but we found no morphological differences between

m, RV Alis, 19 Oct. 2006; MNHN 2009-0128, 105.1

specimens with one or three bands. Molecular anal-

mm SL, 15°03′36″S, 166°52′12″E, 323–397 m, RV

ysis of the dichromatism is required once genetic

Alis, 8 Sept. 2005; MNHN 2009-1484, 43.3 mm SL,

material is made available. According to Last et al.

, RV Alis, 5 Sept. 2005; MNHN 2009-1513, 99.7

(2005), L. trifasciatus is also characterized by hav-

mm SL, 15°04′34″S, 166°53′28″E, 350–400 m, RV

ing a strongly contrasted reddish caudal-fin margin

Alis, 6 Sept. 2005; MNHN 2010-0549, 20, 46.5–72.4(vs. a faint or indistinct margin in L. longiceps). Va-

mm SL, same data as KAUM–I. 47110; MNHN

lidity of this character was confirmed in three of the

2010-0945, 66.3 mm SL, 15°04′59″S, 167°15′00″E,

four fresh specimen photographs (Fig. 2A–C). The

397–402 m, RV Alis, 7 Oct. 1994.

remaining photograph (Fig. 2D) based on a defrosted

Diagnosis. A species of Lioscorpius with thespecimen showed a pale reddish margin, indicating

following combination of characters: anal fin withthat the colour might fade or bleach with freezing.

3 spines and 5 rays; 1–3 diagonal red bands on

The state of these two characters in the other 220

pectoral fin; and red caudal-fin margin; relatively

reported specimens is unknown as no fresh colour

small head [38.7–44.3% (mean 41.9%) of SL], orbit

notes were recorded at the time of capture and also

[7.4–11.2% (9.6%) of SL], upper jaw [19.1–23.5%

due to colour not persisting after preservation.

(21.5%) of SL], and maxilla depth [5.3–7.1% (6.5%)

Lioscorpius trifasciatus has been known onlyof SL]; short predorsal-fin distance [34.3–41.4%

from 16 specimens from Australian territory of the(38.6%) of SL]; and long second pelvic-fin ray

Tasman and Coral seas (Last et al., 2005). During[18.5–22.5% (20.4%) of SL], and anal-fin spines [first

this study, 224 additional specimens (31.1–133.6

spine 4.7–6.6% (5.8%) of SL, second 10.4–16.4%mm SL) of the species collected from New Caledo-(13.7%) of SL].

nia, Vanuatu and Fiji in depths of 167–956 m were

Remarks. The present specimens from thefound in museum collections. The additional materi-southwestern Pacific Ocean are identified as L. tri-

al reported here demonstrates that L. trifasciatus isfasciatus in having three spines and five soft rays incommon at a range of localities in the southwestern

the anal fin. The only other congener, L. longiceps,

Pacific and indicates that the species may have a

has two spines and six soft rays (Last et al., 2005;

somewhat wider distribution in the region. At least

this study). In addition to the number of anal-fin

off Vanuatu and Fiji, L. longiceps appears to be sym-

elements, Last et al. (2005) distinguished L. trifas-

patric with L. trifasciatus.

ciatus from L. longiceps by having three red bandson the pectoral fin, instead of one red band in the

Acknowledgements

latter. However, colour photographs of four fresh
specimens identified as L. trifasciatus in this study

The first author is especially grateful to P. Béarez,

show that they have only one red band on the pecto-

P. Pruvost, C. Ferrara, Z. Gabsi and all staff ofral fin (Fig. 2). The pectoral-fin colour pattern of L.

MNHN and C. Roberts, A. Stewart, L. Moore and− 27 −

First records of the deepwater scorpionfish, Lioscorpius trifasciatus (Setarchidae), from outside Australian waters

all staff of the Fish Section of NMNZ for their as-dae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-sistance during his stay at their museums. We thankPac. Fish., 37: 1–76.

M. Matsunuma (KAUM) for helping to take data forMotomura, H., Arbsuwan, S. & Musikasinthorn, P.

the specimens. This study was supported in part by2010. Thysanichthys evides Jordan and Thomp-

Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A: 26241027,

son, 1914, a senior synonym of Sebastella lit-

B: 24370041 and C: 23580259 and 26450265) fromtoralis Tanaka, 1917, and a valid species of Scor-

the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, To-

paenodes (Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae). Spec.

kyo, Japan (JSPS); the JSPS Core-to-Core Program,Diversity, 15: 71–81.

“Research and Education Network on Southeast

Motomura, H., Béarez, P. & Causse, R. 2011a. Re-

Asian Coastal Ecosystems”; the “Coastal Area Ca-view of Indo-Pacific specimens of the subfamily

pability Enhancement in Southeast Asia Project”

Scorpaeninae (Scorpaenidae), deposited in theof the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature,

Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, with

Kyoto, Japan; the “Biological Properties of Biodi-

description of a new species of Neomerinthe. Cy-

versity Hotspots in Japan” project of the National

bium, 35: 55–73.

Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan;

Motomura, H., Struthers, C. D., McGrouther, M. A.

“Establishment of Research and Education Network& Stewart, A. L. 2011b. Validity of Scorpaena

on Biodiversity and Its Conservation in the Satsunan

jacksoniensis and a redescription of S. cardinalis,

Islands” project of Kagoshima University adopted

a senior synonym of S. cookii (Scorpaeniformes:by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sci-

Scorpaenidae). Ichthyol. Res., 58: 315–332.

ence and Technology, Japan; and by the NZ National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd(Received June 1, 2016; Accepted August 18, 2016)(NIWA) Core Funded Coasts & Oceans Programme
2: Biological Resources subcontract for fundamental knowledge of marine fish biodiversity with theMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, previously NIWA’s FORST contract: C01X0502. The firstauthor’s visits to Paris for nine months in 2010–2016
and Wellington for two weeks in 2011 were supported by the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle
and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa,
respectively.

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