Species Diversity 17: 151–160
25 November 2012

Phenacoscorpius longilineatus, a New Species of
Deepwater Scorpionfish from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean
and the First Records of Phenacoscorpius adenensis fromthe Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae)
Hiroyuki Motomura1,4, Romain Causse2 and Carl D. Struthers3
1 The Kagoshima University Museum, 1-21-30 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan

E-mail: motomura@kaum.kagoshima-u.ac.jp

2 UMR 7208, Département “Milieux et peuplements aquatiques”, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle,

43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
E-mail: causse@mnhn.fr
3 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P.O. Box 467, Wellington, New ZealandE-mail: CarlS@tepapa.govt.nz
4 Correponding author(Received 2 August 2012; Accepted 5 November 2012)

A new scorpionfish, Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp., is described on the basis of 94 specimens from New Caledonia and New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, at depths of 345–1089 m. The new species is distinguished fromits congeners by the following combination of characters: 8–18 (mode 12) pored lateral-line scales, last of which is situated from below base of seventh spine to below base of fourth dorsal-fin soft ray; no slit behind fourth gill arch; palatine
teeth present; second preopercular spine always absent; nuchal and parietal spines distinct; nape and anterior body strongly
arched in adults of over ca. 80 mm standard length (SL); post-nuchal-spine length 5.0–9.7% (mean 7.2%) of SL; caudal fin
length 21.4–26.7% (mean 23.4%) of SL; 1–5 (mode 2) black spots on posterior half of caudal peduncle; and body usually
uniformly whitish without distinct dark saddles in preserved specimens. In addition, P. adenensis Norman, 1939, which issimilar to P. longilineatus morphologically, is redescribed on the basis of 3 specimens from the western Indian Ocean and52 specimens from the southwestern Pacific. The latter represent the first records of this species outside the western Indian
Ocean.
Key Words: Teleostei, Actinopterygii, morphology, redescription, comparison, distribution.

Introduction
The scorpionfish genus Phenacoscorpius Fowler, 1938
(Scorpaenidae) is characterized by an incomplete lateralline, with only a few pored lateral-line scales present anteriorly (Eschmeyer 1965b; Mandrytsa 1992; Poss 1999,
Motomura 2008; Motomura and Last 2009). Recently, Phenacoscorpius longirostris Motomura and Last, 2009 was described as a new species from the Tasman Sea, and Motomura et al. (2012) redescribed a poorly known species, Phenacoscorpius eschmeyeri Parin and Mandrytsa in Mandrytsa,
1992, as a valid species on the basis of the holotype and two
newly collected specimens. Including these two species, fivespecies are currently regarded as valid in the genus.
While inspecting scorpionfish specimens deposited at the
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris (Motomura etal. 2011a) and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington (Motomura et al. 2011b), we foundunidentified specimens of Phenacoscorpius that had beencollected from the southwestern Pacific Ocean. These specimens were reported as Phenacoscorpius sp. 1 and P. sp. 2 byMotomura et al. (2011a), but in the present study, the first

is described as a new species and the second is identified as
Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939, a species that had
been recorded before only from the western Indian Ocean.

Material and Methods
Measurements generally follow Motomura (2004a, b), except for head width (Motomura et al. 2005b, 2006a), maxillary depth (Motomura et al. 2006b), and body depth, second body depth, and post-nuchal-spine length (Motomura
et al. 2012). Counts follow Motomura et al. (2005a–c) andMotomura and Johnson (2006), with predorsal scale row
counts following Motomura et al. (2006b). The last two softrays of both the dorsal and anal fins are counted as single
rays, each pair being associated with a single pterygiophore.
Counts of preopercular spines begin with the uppermost
spine. Standard length is expressed as SL. Terminology ofhead spines follows Randall and Eschmeyer (2002: fig. 1)
and Motomura (2004b: fig. 1) with the following additions:the spine at the base of the uppermost preopercular spine isreferred to as the supplemental preopercular spine (Eschmeyer 1965a); the spine on the lateral surface of the lacrimal© 2012 The Japanese Society of Systematic Zoology

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bone is referred to as the lateral lacrimal spine (Motomura
and Senou 2008: fig. 2; Motomura et al. 2011b: fig. 1); andthe coronal and pretympanic spines (the latter as an extra
spine) are as figured in Chen (1981: fig. 1) and Motomura
et al. (2004: fig. 14b), respectively. Vertebrae of the new species were counted from radiographs of the holotype andthree paratypes. The specimens examined in this study aredeposited in the Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia(AMS); the Australian National Fish Collection at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s
Marine and Atmospheric Research laboratories in Hobart,
Tasmania, Australia (CSIRO); the Kagoshima University
Museum, Kagoshima, Japan (KAUM); the Muséum nationald’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN); and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New
Zealand (NMNZ).
Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp.
[New English name: Southern No-line Scorpionfish](Fig. 1)
Phenacoscorpius sp. 1: Motomura et al. 2011a: 64 (NewCaledonia).
Holotype. MNHN 2010-0942, 83.7 mm SL, New Caledonia, Norfolk Ridge, 23°39′00″S, 168°01′01″E, 345 m, Aztèque cruise, Station no. 3, RV Alis, bottom trawl, 13 February 1990.
Paratypes. 93 specimens, 30.5–104.9 mm SL. NEW
CALEDONIA: MNHN 2000-1471, 53.1 mm SL, 23°40′00″S,
167°45′00″E, 470 m, RV Coriolis, 30 October 1986; MNHN
2003-1524, 2, 70.4–88.1 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge, 23°42′00″S,
168°15′00″E, 378–402 m, RV Alis, 12 August 1999; MNHN
2003-1531, 2, 61.6–93.2 mm SL, 23°43′01″S, 168°16′01″E,
379–391 m, RV Alis, 12 August 1999; MNHN 2003-1543, 10,
30.5–66.1 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge, 24°52′08″S, 168°21′07″E,
518–540 m, RV Alis, 11 August 1999; MNHN 2004-2559,
102.1 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge, 23°44′10″S, 168°17′20″E,
377–401 m, RV Alis, 31 October 2003; MNHN 2004-2578,
87.4 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge, 23°43′08″S, 168°16′23″E,
380–389 m, RV Alis, 23 October 2003; MNHN 20042680, 16, 33.5–91.2 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge, 24°57′47″S,
168°21′07″E, 627–1089 m, RV Alis, 28 October 2003;
MNHN 2004-2790, 5, 70.4–97.5 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge,
23°48′54″S, 168°16′01″E, 500–1074 m, RV Alis, 31 October 2003; MNHN 2004-2841, 91.6 mm SL, Norfolk Ridge,
23°44′06″S, 168°16′08″E, 390–398 m, RV Alis, 31 October
2003; MNHN 2005-2593, 3, 34.5–35.9 mm SL, 24°55′59″S,
168°21′00″E, 560 m, RV Alis, 7 March 1989; MNHN
2005-2659, 9, 72.0–94.7 mm SL, 23°37′59″S, 167°42′00″E,
463 m, RV Alis, 14 February 1990; MNHN 2005-2660, 2,
69.9–85.1 mm SL, 24°54′S, 168°21′E, 530 m, RV Vauban,
20 May 1987; MNHN 2010-0941, 89.5 mm SL, 23°39′00″S,
168°01′01″E, 345 m, RV Alis, 13 February 1990; MNHN
2011-0089, 14, 39.6–71.4 mm SL, 22°58′59″S, 168°22′01″E,
490–515 m, RV Vauban, 29 September 1985; MNHN 20110165, 49.3 mm SL, same data as MNHN 2003-1524; MNHN
2011-0166, 2, 56.0–71.6 mm SL, same data as MNHN

2005-2659; MNHN 2011-0167, 5, 45.2–58.6 mm SL, samedata as MNHN 2005-2660; NMNZ P. 029073, 57.0 mm SL,
Aztèque Seamount, 23°19′24″S, 168°00′20″E, 580–600 m, C.
Roberts and C. Paulin, 22 October 1992; NMNZ P. 029210,
3, 43.8–66.3 mm SL, a seamount, 24°55′30″S, 168°21′27″E,
540–670 m, C. Roberts and C. Paulin, 15 October 1992;
NMNZ P. 029337, 3, 69.5–74.2 mm SL, Jumeaux Seamount,
23°48′45″S, 168°17′06″E, 540–950 m, C. Roberts and C.
Paulin, 21 October 1992; NMNZ P. 029350, 2, 86.9–90.2 mm
SL, Jumeaux Seamount, 23°44′54″S, 168°16′45″E, 390–
400 m, C. Roberts and C. Paulin, 21 October 1992; NMNZ
P. 029380, 95.6 mm SL, Jumeaux Seamount, 23°42′39″S,
168°16′10″E, 390–420 m, C. Roberts and C. Paulin, 21 October 1992; KAUM–I. 48325, 104.9 mm SL, KAUM–I. 48326,
84.7 mm SL, KAUM–I. 48327, 76.1 mm SL, KAUM–I.
48328, 39.3 mm SL, Bellona Reef, Chesterfield Islands,
22°10′59″S, 159°24′00″E, 350–370 m, RV Coriolis, 16 July
1984; KAUM–I. 48362, 72.3 mm SL, same data as MNHN
2003-1543. NEW ZEALAND: NMNZ P.038308, 62.7 mm
SL, Rumble 5 Submarine Volcano, North Island, 36°08′24″S,178°11′24″E, 360–755 m, RV Tangaroa, 24 May 2001;
NMNZ P. 039610, 70.1 mm SL, southern Norfolk Ridge,
34°37′26″S, 168°57′34″E, 521–539 m, RV Tangaroa, 3 June
2003.
Diagnosis. A species of Indo–Pacific Phenacoscorpius
with the following combination of characters: 16–18 (mode17) pectoral fin rays, middle rays branched in young andadults; 8–18 (mode 12) pored lateral-line scales, with last
pored scale situated from below base of seventh spine to
below base of fourth dorsal-fin soft ray; 50–52 scale rows inlongitudinal series; 18–21 (mode 20) gill rakers; no slit behind fourth gill arch; palatine teeth present; second preopercular spine always absent; nuchal and parietal spines distinct; 4–6 (mode 5) suborbital spines in young and adults,
6–7 in larger adults; nape and anterior part of body strongly
arched in adults of over ca. 80 mm SL; relatively long postnuchal-spine length, 5.0–9.7% (mean 7.2%) of SL; relatively
short caudal fin length, 21.4–26.7% (mean 23.4%) of SL; 1–5(mode 2) black spots on posterior half of caudal peduncle;
body usually uniformly whitish without distinct dark saddles in preserved specimens; largest recorded specimen
105 mm SL.
Description. Counts and measurements (as percentages of SL) of P. longilineatus are given in Table 1. Frequency
distributions of selected meristics are presented in Table 2.
In the description below (including the colour descriptionof preserved specimens), the data and description of the holotype are presented first, followed by data for paratypes inparentheses when different.
Body moderately compressed anteriorly, progressively
more compressed posteriorly. Nape and anterior part ofbody strongly arched (moderately arched in young and juveniles). Body moderately deep, but body depth less thanhead length. Uppermost ray (upper 2 rays in juveniles) andlower 9 (7–10) rays of pectoral fin unbranched, remaining rays branched (all rays of smallest paratype, 30.5 mm
SL, unbranched); 10th (10th to 12th) ray longest. Third (orsecond) soft ray longest among dorsal fin rays. Second soft

Two Pacific species of Phenacoscorpius153

Fig. 1. Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp. from the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A, MNHN 2010-0942, holotype, 83.7 mm SL, New Caledonia; B, NMNZ P. 039610, paratype, fresh specimen, 70.1 mm SL, New Zealand; C, NMNZ P. 029210, paratype, 43.8 mm SL, New Caledonia; D, NMNZ P. 029210, paratype, 66.3 mm SL, New Caledonia; E, NMNZ P. 029350, paratype, 86.9 mm SL, New Caledonia; F, NMNZ P.
029380, paratype, 95.6 mm SL, New Caledonia. The nape and anterior body are strongly arched in adults of over 80 mm SL, i.e., A, E, F.

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Fig. 2. Phenacoscorpius adenensis from the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A, MNHN 2001-2855, 34.3 mm SL, Vanuatu; B, CSIRO H 6047-01,
fresh specimen, 51.7 mm SL, Australia; C, NMNZ P. 041914, 53.1 mm SL, New Zealand; D, MNHN 2010-0827, 65.0 mm SL, Vanuatu.

Two Pacific species of Phenacoscorpius155

ray longest among pelvic and anal fin rays. Supraocular tentacle slender and short (but often absent); no other distinct
tentacles on body. No distinct papillae on body. No fimbriate flap on posterior lacrimal spine. Pectoral fin axil without
skin flap. Cycloid and ctenoid scales covering opercle, cheek,
area surrounded by orbit, suborbital ridge, ascending ramus
of preopercle, nuchal spine, and lower posttemporal spine.
Ctenoid scales covering interorbital and occiput regions;other parts of head not covered with scales. Well-exposed
ctenoid scales covering lateral surface of body; exposed cycloid scales on anteroventral surface of body. Exposed cycloid and ctenoid scales covering pectoral fin base. Body
scales not extending onto rays or membranes of fins, except
for bases of pectoral and caudal fins. Lateral line incomplete; last pored lateral-line scale situated from below baseof ninth dorsal-fin spine (from below base of seventh spine
to base of fourth dorsal-fin soft ray).
Mouth large, slightly oblique, forming angle of about 20
degrees to longitudinal axis of head and body. Posterior
margin of maxilla extending beyond vertical drawn throughposterior margin of pupil, but not reaching to vertical drawn
through posterior margin of orbit. Lateral surface of maxilla smooth, without ridges, tentacles, or scales. Lower jaw
with symphyseal knob. Width of symphyseal gap separatingpremaxillary teeth bands subequal to width of each band.
Upper jaw with band of villiform teeth. Tooth band of upper
jaw wider than that of lower jaw. Lower jaw with band ofvilliform teeth, length of most teeth equal to those of upper
jaw. Vomer and palatines with villiform teeth; maximum
width of vomerine tooth plate subequal to maximum lengthof palatine tooth plate. Underside of dentary with 3 sensory
pores on each side, first pore below anterior lacrimal ridge,
second pore below posterior lacrimal spine, third pore located on posterior margin of dentary. Pore behind symphyseal knob of lower jaw on each side. Underside of lower jaw
smooth, without ridges or tentacles. No slit behind fourthgill arch. Swimbladder present. Vertebrae 25.
Dorsal profile of snout steep, forming angle of about 60(50–60) degrees to longitudinal axis of head and body. Nasal
spine simple, somewhat conical, directed upward. Anterior
nostril with low membranous tube, latter bearing slender,
short tentacle. Ascending process of premaxilla not intruding into interorbital space, its posterior margin extending
slightly beyond level of posterior margin of posterior nostril.
Median interorbital ridge absent. Interorbital ridges poorly
developed, separated by shallow channel, beginning posterior to nasal spines and not conjoined. No distinct ridge
on anterior edge of occiput. Interorbital ridges diverging
anteriorly and posteriorly in dorsal view, space between
them narrowest at level of anterior margin of pupil. Interorbital space shallow, only about one-tenth of orbit extending
above dorsal profile of head. Preocular spine simple, directed nearly upward. Supraocular spine simple, its tip locatedabove middle of eye. Postocular spine simple, slightly longer
than tympanic spine. Tympanic spine simple; bases of tympanic spines barely joined with interorbital ridges. Coronal, interorbital, and pretympanic spines absent. Occiputnearly flat. No distinct transverse ridge at rear of occiput.

Occiput bordered laterally by tympanic and parietal spines.
Nuchal and parietal spines joined to each other at bases,
but still two distinct spines. Sphenotic with small spines.
Pterotic spine simple. Upper posttemporal spine and ridge
absent. Lower posttemporal spine simple, its base longer(often shorter) than that of pterotic spine. Supracleithral andcleithral spines flattened and rounded with pointed tips.
Lateral lacrimal spine present (but absent on left side ofhead in MNHN 2004-2804; absent on both sides of head in
MNHN 2004-2790, 1 of 5 specimens, 71.5 mm SL). Anterior
lacrimal spine indistinct, not pointed but rounded; no additional spines at anterior base of lacrimal spine. Posterior
lacrimal spine simple, not strongly pointed, triangular, its tip
not reaching upper jaw lip. Posterior lacrimal spine smaller
than anterior spine. Suborbital ridge with 7 spines on bothsides of head (4–7 spines), first spine below middle of eye.
Preopercle with 4 spines, uppermost spine largest with supplemental preopercular spine on its base, second spine absent, third to fifth spines without median ridge. Preopercle
without serrae or spines between uppermost preopercularspine and its own upper end. Upper opercular spine simple
without median ridge. Lower opercular spine simple with
distinct median ridge. Space between upper and lower opercular spines not covered with fleshy skin. Posterior tips ofupper and lower opercular spines not reaching opercularmargin.
Origin of first dorsal fin spine above supracleithral spine
base. Posterior margin of opercular membrane extending
beyond vertical drawn through origin of fourth (often third)
dorsal fin spine. Posterior tip of pectoral fin reaching vertical drawn through anterior base of soft-rayed portion of
dorsal fin. Posterior tip of depressed pelvic fin extending
beyond anus. Origin of pelvic fin spine slightly anterior to
origin of pectoral fin. Origin of first anal fin spine just below
origin of last dorsal fin spine.
Colour of preserved specimens. Body uniformly
white, except for black eyes and spots on caudal peduncle(rarely with 4 pale black saddles on body; first above opercle, second below posterior part of spinous portion of dorsal
fin, third below soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin, and fourthon caudal peduncle). Three tiny black spots (1–5 spots) on
posterior half of caudal peduncle. Pale black blotch (usually
distinct but absent in presumed females) on spinous portionof dorsal fin between seventh and eleventh spines.
Colour when fresh. Colour of holotype unknown. In
one paratype, body and fins pale red, mottled with poorly
defined white or pinkish blotches (based on colour photograph of NMNZ P. 039610, paratype, 70.1 mm SL: Fig. 1B).
Distribution. This species is known from the southwestern Pacific Ocean where it ranges from New Caledonia south to northern New Zealand. The type series wascollected in depths of 345–1089 m. The Muséum nationald’Histoire naturelle in Paris holds an enormous collection of
deepwater trawled fishes, including scorpionfishes, from the
Pacific Ocean, which we have examined (Motomura et al.
2011a), but no specimens of P. longilineatus were collectedin surveys in the Philippines (surveyed in 1976, 1980, 1985),
Indonesia (1991), the Marquesas Islands (1997, 2002), the156

Hiroyuki Motomura et al.

Solomon Islands (2000, 2004), Taiwan (2000, 2001), French
Polynesia (2002, 2009), and the Austral Islands (2002). This
indicates that the species is restricted to the southwestern
Pacific Ocean.
Etymology. The specific name longilineatus is derived
from Latin meaning “long line”, in reference to the longlateral line of the new species associated with the greatest
number of pored lateral-line scales in the genus.
Remarks. Phenacoscorpius longilineatus can be distinguished easily from all of its congeners, including the Atlantic species Phenacoscorpius nebris Eschmeyer, 1965, by
having a higher number of pored lateral-line scales [8–18(mode 12)], the last pored scale being located from below
the seventh spine base to below the fourth dorsal-fin softray base [vs 2–8 (mode 3), with the last located from below
the second to fifth dorsal-fin spine base; Mandrytsa 1992;
Motomura 2008; Motomura and Last 2009; Motomura etal. 2012]. In the Indo–Pacific, P. longilineatus further differsfrom P. megalops Fowler, 1938 and P. longirostris Motomura
and Last, 2009 by having teeth on the palatines (vs no such
teeth in the latter two species: Motomura 2008; Motomura
and Last 2009) and from P. eschmeyeri in having the nuchal
and parietal spines distinct (vs fused to each other to form asingle large spine: Motomura et al. 2012).
Phenacoscorpius longilineatus is most similar to P. adenensis, co-occurring in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In
addition to the number of pored lateral-line scales, P. longilineatus differs from P. adenensis in having a lower numberof black spots on the posterior half of the caudal peduncle[1–5 (mode 2) vs 5–37 (8) in the latter: Table 2], a relatively
longer post-nuchal-spine length [5.0–9.7% (mean 7.2%) of
SL vs 3.2–9.5% (mean 5.7%): Table 1], a relatively shorter
caudal fin length [21.4–26.7% (mean 23.4%) of SL vs 23.4–
30.7% (mean 26.7%): Table 1], the body usually uniformly
whitish without distinct dark saddles in preserved specimens (Fig. 1A, C–F) vs usually with four dark saddles (Fig.
2A–D), and the nape and anterior body strongly arched in
adults of over ca. 80 mm SL (Fig. 1A, E, F) vs not strongly
arched throughout life (Fig. 2A–D).
Phenacoscorpius longilineatus has a black blotch on theposterior part of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin only
in presumed males whereas P. adenensis has the blotch inboth sexes (variation of blotch size and shape in P. adenensis
is discussed below).
Phenacoscorpius longilineatus grows larger than P. adenensis (largest recorded size, 104.9 mm vs 79.6 mm SL).
Although the number of the suborbital spines in both species is modally five, larger specimens of P. longilineatus tends
to have more spines; three specimens with seven spines
on both sides of the head, or asymmetrically six and sevenspines, were of more than 90 mm SL (Tables 1–2).
Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939
[New English name: Toothed No-line Scorpionfish](Fig. 2)
Phenacoscorpius adenensis Norman, 1939: 94, fig. 29 (typelocality: Gulf of Aden, Somalia, northwestern Indian

Ocean); Smith 1957: 69 (Gulf of Aden); Eschmeyer 1986:
470, fig. 149.17 (off Buffalo River, South Africa); Mandrytsa 1992: 13 (Socotra Island, Yemen; Walters Shoal,
southern Madagascar); Motomura et al. 2011a: 64 (Gulfof Aden; northwestern Madagascar).
Phenacoscorpius sp. 2: Motomura et al. 2011a: 64 (NewCaledonia; Vanuatu).
Holotype. BMNH 1939.5.24.1545, 79.4 mm SL, Gulf ofAden, Somalia, 274–366 m, John Murray Expedition 1933–
34.
Other material examined. 54 specimens, 17.8–
66.2 mm SL. SOUTH AFRICA: SAIAB 10592, 58.9 mm SL,
off Mbashe Point, South Africa, 32°16′12″S, 29°07′26″E, 25
June 1979. MADAGASCAR: MNHN 1988-1522, 66.2 mm
SL, 12°46′05″S, 48°10′05″E, 495–500 m, RV Vauban, 15 September 1972. AUSTRALIA: AMS I. 34465-001, 32.7 mm
SL, off entrance to Curalo Lagoon, Twofold Bay, New South
Wales, 37°03′12″S, 149°55′24″E, 200 m, J. Lowry and S. Keable, 26 November, 1988; CSIRO H 630-22, 2, 40.9–43.4 mm
SL, south of Saumarez Reef, Queensland, 22°36′S, 153°50′E,
350 m, FRV Soela, 17 November 1985; CSIRO H 4453-11,
2, 24.8–27.6 mm SL, east of Bermagui, New South Wales,
36°30′S, 150°18′E, 214–225 m, FRV Southern Surveyor, 1
December 1996; CSIRO H 4456-01, 38.6 mm SL, south ofGabo Island, Victoria, 37°52′S, 150°02′E, 213 m, FRV Southern Surveyor, 27 November 1996; CSIRO H 4456-02, 3,
30.6–40.5 mm SL, same data as CSIRO H 4456-01; CSIRO H
5329-03, 2, 20.0–23.4 mm SL, south-southeast of Cape Everard, Victoria, 38°10′S, 149°41′E, 259–262 m, FRV Southern Surveyor, 23 April 2000; CSIRO H 5331-04, 36.2 mm
SL, south of Cape Everard, Victoria, 359 m, FRV Southern
Surveyor, 22 April 2000; CSIRO H 6047-01, 51.7 mm SL,
Lord Howe Rise, 34°07′58″S, 162°24′25″E, 700 m, RV Tangaroa, 26 May 2003; CSIRO H 6779-01, 3, 28.3–40.8 mm
SL, south of Gabo Island, Victoria, 37°45′S, 150°00′E, 108–109 m, FRV Southern Surveyor, 12 December 1996. NEW
CALEDONIA: MNHN 2004-1626, 35.1 mm SL, Lifou Island, Loyalty Islands, 20°41′10″S, 167°07′44″E, 380 m, RV
Alis, 15 February 1989. VANUATU: MNHN 1998-0034,
52.9 mm SL, 15°01′01″S, 166°55′59″E, 532–599 m, RV Alis, 9
October 1994; MNHN 1998-0054, 53.8 mm SL, 16°39′00″S,
168°01′59″E, 469–525 m, RV Alis, 1 October 1994; MNHN
1998-0081, 26.6 mm SL, 17°46′59″S, 168°48′00″E, 321 m,
RV Alis, 28 September 1994; MNHN 2001-2855, 34.3 mm
SL, 17°52′01″S, 168°25′01″E, 300–301 m, RV Alis, 27 September 1994; MNHN 2008-1539, 56.2 mm SL, 15°42′14″S,167°02′38″E, 441 m, RV Alis, 17 October 2006; MNHN
2010-0827, 2, 59.3–65.0 mm SL, 15°44′17″S, 167°03′00″E,
603–736 m, RV Alis, 7 October 2006. FIJI: MNHN 20005678, 52.1 mm SL, 19°03′S, 178°29′W, 680–723 m, RV
Alis, 10 May 1999. NEW ZEALAND: NMNZ P. 007797,
9, 24.0–43.3 mm SL, ca. 17 km east of Mayor Island, Bay ofPlenty, North Island, 37°20′36″S, 176°28′33″E, 482–550 m,
RV Tangaroa, 22 January 1979; NMNZ P. 007832, 2, 39.8–
44.3 mm SL, 19 km east-southeast of Mayor Island, Bay ofPlenty, North Island, 37°21′18″S, 176°28′51″E, 388–448 m,
RV Tangaroa, 22 January 1979; NMNZ P. 007840, 52.5 mm

Two Pacific species of Phenacoscorpius157

Table 1. Counts and measurements of Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp. and P. adenensis. Modes for meristics and means for morphometrics are in parentheses.
Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp.
Holotype
New Caledonia
MNHN 2010-0942

Paratypes
Southwestern Pacific
n=93

Phenacoscorpius adenensis
Holotype
Somalia
BMNH 1939.5.24.1545

Non-types
Indo-West Pacific
n=54

Standard length (SL, mm)

83.7

30.5–104.9

79.4

17.8–66.2

Dorsal fin rays
Pectoral fin rays1
Pelvic fin rays
Anal fin rays
Scale rows in longitudinal
series2
Pored lateral-line scales1
Scale rows above lateral line
Predorsal scale rows
Gill rakers
Suborbital spines1

XII, 917, 17
I, 5
III, 550

XII, 8–9 (9)16–18 (17)I, 5III, 550–52 (50)

XII, 917/17
I, 5
III, 5
51

XII, 8–10 (9)16–18 (17)I, 5III, 5
—

9, 10
5
9
20
7, 7

8–18 (12)
5–6 (5)
8–12 (9)18–21 (20)
4–7 (5)

5, 5
6
11
19
5, 5

2–8 (3)
5–6 (6)
8–11 (9)17–21 (19)
5–7 (5)

38.4
25.3
21.0
44.8
11.8
14.1
6.0
5.1
15.9
22.8
7.5
7.5
5.3
21.6
41.9
69.7
36.3
7.2
—
—
—
14.9
6.6
11.7
17.2

32.2–39.0 (36.2)
20.7–27.3 (24.3)
11.6–23.2 (18.8)
40.8–46.8 (44.1)
9.3–12.5 (10.9)
13.5–16.5 (15.0)
4.7–6.5 (5.6)
4.1–5.9 (4.9)
13.6–17.1 (15.6)
20.2–23.5 (21.8)
6.0–8.1 (6.7)
5.0–9.7 (7.2)
4.9–8.3 (6.4)
17.7–22.9 (20.0)
36.3–45.2 (41.5)
64.4–73.5 (68.7)
34.1–41.0 (37.3)
5.9–9.2 (7.7)
11.1–16.1 (13.6)
16.5–20.6 (18.5)
14.7–19.5 (16.8)
13.5–17.5 (15.5)
5.4–8.0 (6.9)
10.3–13.4 (12.1)
15.7–20.3 (18.3)

41.6
—
22.7
46.1
11.7
14.4
5.9
4.7
16.4
21.8
7.7
—
6.0
23.0
41.3
75.9
46.7
3.8
13.4
18.4
16.4
—
7.7
10.8
—

31.4–41.6 (35.2)
21.9–26.1 (24.3)
12.5–22.7 (17.0)
41.0–46.1 (43.6)
9.4–12.0 (10.6)
13.7–15.6 (14.4)
4.6–6.7 (5.6)
4.1–6.1 (4.9)
13.3–16.6 (14.6)
19.4–22.6 (20.9)
5.9–7.7 (6.4)
3.2–9.5 (5.7)
5.7–6.9 (6.1)
18.2–23.0 (19.6)
36.6–43.1 (40.1)
64.7–75.9 (68.5)
35.8–46.7 (38.4)
3.8–8.7 (7.0)
10.8–15.7 (13.3)
16.3–20.7 (18.9)
16.0–17.7 (17.1)
13.1–17.1 (15.1)
5.8–8.1 (6.9)
10.7–12.6 (11.8)
15.7–19.9 (17.8)

—
20.3
16.1
20.5
35.1
17.8
25.2
22.6
20.3
9.0

7.0–11.4 (9.3)
18.6–23.7 (20.7)
14.0–17.7 (15.5)
18.9–23.8 (20.8)
27.5–36.6 (32.1)
16.3–19.9 (18.3)
23.6–28.7 (25.4)
21.4–26.7 (23.4)
18.3–25.4 (21.2)
7.7–10.3 (8.6)

10.3
19.3
14.5
—
31.0
17.5
24.7
—
18.4
9.2

7.4–10.3 (8.5)
16.1–23.4 (19.9)
13.6–17.0 (15.1)
19.0–23.2 (20.9)
28.9–37.5 (31.7)
13.5–20.5 (17.1)
24.2–28.8 (26.2)
23.4–30.7 (26.7)
18.2–23.7 (21.1)
7.7–9.8 (8.9)% of SL
Body depth
2nd body depth
Body width
Head length
Snout length
Orbit diameter
Interorbital width3Interorbital width4
Head width
Upper-jaw length
Maxillary depth
Post-nuchal-spine length
Between tips of opercular spines
Postorbital lengthPre-dorsal-fin lengthPre-anal-fin length
Pre-pelvic-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

1 Counted on both sides of body; 2 based on 4 paratypes of P. longilineatus (most body scales of other paratypes of P. longilineatus and all non-typesof P. adenensis were lost in the trawl); 3 at vertical midline of eye; 4 at posterior end of preocular spine base.

9
6

16/16

9
7

16/17
73
31

17/17
1
4

17/18

present/present

present/absent

910

P. longilineatus n. sp.
P. adenensis

81
39

6

/

9

8

9
84
37

10

26

10

1 Counted on both sides of body; 2 except for rakers on hypobranchial.

463

P. longilineatus n. sp.
17
29
27
14
6
P. adenensis					 3

2

6

1

5

		
6

7
10

8
3

9
3

10

3

11

27

12
20

13

1
1

4/5

2

3

2

12

2

13

2

14

66
16

4

2

15

2

14

50
34

5/5

17

1

15

23
12

5/6

18

1

16

1

17

1

20

1

22

25
25

19

1

24

1

1

30

58
12

20

17

2
2

6/7

Total gill rakers

1

16

32
1

6/6

Suborbital spines (one side/other side)

2		 6
2
2
9

5

Gill rakers on hypobranchial20

11

4		 2653
31

11Gill rakers on lower limb2

7

4			
1
5
2		1		 107Gill rakers on upper limb

6									Black spots on posterior half of caudal peduncle

5

		

		

5
7

4

P. longilineatus n. sp.							1P. adenensis
20
36
20
16
5
1
1

3

9

2

8

		

94
27

absent/absent

2nd preopercular spine (one side/other side)

1			
2
13
10

18/18

Pectoral fin rays (one side/other side)									Pored lateral-line scales1

P. longilineatus n. sp.
P. adenensis

				

Table 2. Frequency distribution of selected meristic characters in Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp. and P. adenensis.

1

37

5
4

21

1

18

2

7/7

158
Hiroyuki Motomura et al.

Two Pacific species of Phenacoscorpius159

SL, same data as NMNZ P. 7832; NMNZ P. 007882, 29.1 mm
SL, 28 km north of Motuhora Island, Bay of Plenty, North
Island, 37°36′45″S, 176°59′39″E, 139–179 m, RV Tangaroa,
20 January 1979; NMNZ P. 034493, 2, 17.8–27.3 mm SL, ca.
14 km northeast of Cavalli Island, North Island, 34°46′00″S,
174°05′48″E, 492 m, New Zealand Oceanographic Institute, 10 November 1977; NMNZ P. 038314, 38.3 mm SL,
Rumble 3 Submarine Volcano, outer Bay of Plenty, North
Island, 35°44′09″S, 178°29′45″E, 202–365 m, RV Tangaroa,
23 May 2001; NMNZ P. 039615, 2, 21.1–24.2 mm SL, southern Norfolk Ridge, 34°37′26″S, 168°57′34″E, 521–539 m,
RV Tangaroa, 3 June 2003; NMNZ P. 041324, 44.8 mm SL,
Bay of Plenty, North Island, 37°27′47″S, 176°54′50″E, 247–
294 m, RV Tangaroa, 16 November 2004; NMNZ P. 041853,
54.1 mm SL, southeast of Colville Ridge, Bay of Plenty,
North Island, 37°21′17″S, 177°06′05″E, 259–294 m, RV Tangaroa, 14 November 2004; NMNZ P. 041854, 48.1 mm SL,
same data as NMNZ P. 041853; NMNZ P. 041855, 32.4 mm
SL, southeast of Colville Ridge, Bay of Plenty, North Island,
37°28′26″S, 176°54′35″E, 248–256 m, RV Tangaroa, 15 November 2004; NMNZ P. 041857, 30.4 mm SL, Bay of Plenty, North Island, 37°28′04″S, 176°54′53″E, 210–225 m, RV
Tangaroa, 15 November 2004; NMNZ P. 041914, 53.1 mm
SL, east of Colville Ridge, Bay of Plenty, North Island,
37°28′55″S, 177°12′29″E, 259 m, RV Tangaroa, 11 November
2004; NMNZ P. 041928, 36.7 mm SL, southeast of Colville
Ridge, Bay of Plenty, North Island, 37°18′50″S, 177°04′29″E,
466–495 m, RV Tangaroa, 14 November 2004; NMNZ P.
048204, 33.6 mm SL, southern Norfolk Ridge, 34°37′26″S,
168°57′34″E, 521–539 m, RV Tangaroa, 3 June 2003.
Diagnosis. A species of Indo–Pacific Phenacoscorpius
with the following combination of characters: 16–18 (mode17) pectoral fin rays, middle rays branched in young andadults; 2–8 (mode 3) pored lateral-line scales, last pored
scale situated from below second to fifth dorsal-fin spinebase; about 50 scale rows in longitudinal series; 17–21(mode 19) gill rakers; palatine teeth present; nuchal and parietal spines distinct; 3–5 (mode 5) suborbital spines; nape
and anterior part of body moderately arched throughout
life; relatively short post-nuchal-spine length, 3.2–9.5%(mean 5.7%) of SL; relatively long caudal fin length, 23.4–
30.7% (mean 26.7%) of SL; 5–37 (mode 8) black spots on
posterior half of caudal peduncle; 4 distinct saddles on bodyin preserved specimens; largest recorded specimen 79 mm
SL.
Distribution. This species has previously been recorded from the western Indian Ocean: the Gulf of Aden, Somalia (Norman 1939; Smith 1957); Socotra Island, Yemen(Mandrytsa 1992); off Buffalo River, South Africa (Eschmeyer 1986); Walters Shoal, southern Madagascar (Mandrytsa 1992); and northwestern Madagascar (Motomura etal. 2011a). An additional Indian Ocean specimen (SAIAB
10592, 58.9 mm SL, off Mbashe Point, South Africa) was recorded in this study. Fifty-two specimens examined in thisstudy were collected from the southwestern Pacific Ocean:Australia (from Queensland to Victoria, including the Lord
Howe Rise), New Caledonia (Loyalty Islands), Vanuatu, Fiji,and northern New Zealand (including the Norfolk Ridge

and North Island). They represent the first records of P. adenensis from outside the Indian Ocean. The southwestern
Pacific Ocean specimens were collected in depths of 139–
736 m.
Remarks. The southwestern Pacific specimens are herein identified as P. adenensis, a species previously known only
from the western Indian Ocean. However, they differ from
Indian Ocean specimens in lacking a slit behind the fourthgill arch, but no other differences between the two populations were found during this study. Because the available
western Indian Ocean specimens of P. adenensis, including
the holotype, were in very poor condition, and all the southwestern Pacific specimens were damaged during capture
in deepwater trawls (e.g., the number of scale rows in longitudinal series could not counted in any specimen), moredetailed comparisons between these populations, based on
specimens in good condition, are required to elucidate theirtaxonomic status.
The second preopercular spine is usually absent on bothsides of the head in P. adenensis. About 26% and 20% of
specimens, however, have the second spine on both sides oron only one side of the head, respectively (Table 2). Whenpresent it is reduced, being shorter than the third spine. Thiscondition is also found in P. megalops (see Motomura andLast 2009), but has not been known from any other Indo–
Pacific congener: P. eschmeyeri and P. longilineatus always
lack the second preopercular spines on both sides of thehead (Motomura 2008; Motomura et al. 2012; this study)
whereas P. longirostris always has them (Motomura and Last
2009).
The black blotch on the spinous portion of dorsal fin isrounded in most specimens of P. adenensis, its size being
less than the orbit diameter (Fig. 2A, D). A few specimens,
though, have an elongate blotch that is wider than the orbit
diameter, as well as a narrow black band on the basal softrayed portion of the dorsal fin (Fig. 2C). These differences
may be secondary sexual characteristics, but additional
specimens and histological study of the gonads are required
to confirm this.

Acknowledgements
The first author is especially grateful to P. Béarez, P. Pruvost, C. Ferrara, Z. Gabsi, and all staff of MNHN, and C.
Roberts, A. Stewart, L. Moore, and all staff of the Fish Section of NMNZ for their assistance during his stays at theirmuseums. We thank M. McGrouther, A. Hay, and S. Reader(AMS), J. Maclaine (BMNH), and A. Graham (CSIRO) for
specimen loans, and NORFANZ founding parties for thecolour image. This study was supported in part by a Grantin-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan (JSPS) (23580259), a
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from the Ministry of
Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan (19770067),
and JSPS Asian Core Program "Establishment of Researchand Education Network on Coastal Marine Science inSoutheast Asia", and by the NZ Ministry of Research andHiroyuki Motomura et al.

160

Innovation through the Te Papa subcontract within NIWA’s
Biodiversity and Biosecurity Science Programme, previously
NIWA’s FORST contract C01X0502. The first author’s visits
to Paris for five months in 2010–2012 and Wellington for
two weeks in 2011 were supported by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle and the Museum of New Zealand Te
Papa Tongarewa, respectively.

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