Species Diversity, 2009, 14, 75–87

First Records of a Scorpionfish, Scorpaenodes albaiensis, from
East Asia, with a Synopsis of S. minor (Actinopterygii:
Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)
Hiroyuki Motomura1, You Sakurai2 and Gento Shinohara3
1

The Kagoshima University Museum, 1-21-30 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065 Japan
E-mail: motomura@kaum.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
2
Okinawa Environmental Research Co., Ltd., 2-6-19 Aja, Naha, Okinawa, 900-0003 Japan
E-mail: syou@sc.ideacon.co.jp
3
Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science,
3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073 Japan
E-mail: s-gento@kahaku.go.jp(Received 21 September 2008; Accepted 28 October 2008)
The Indo-Pacific scorpionfish Scorpaenodes albaiensis (Evermann and
Seale, 1907), for which the Philippines was previously the northernmost
record, is recorded from East Asia (Taiwan and Japan) for the first time on
the basis of 16 specimens. Specimens from Taiwan and Japan previously
identified as S. minor (Smith, 1958) are shown to include the closely related
species S. albaiensis as well. The East Asian specimens of S. albaiensis aredescribed, and comparisons of the two species are made on the basis of IndoPacific specimens.
Key Words: Teleostei, Scorpaenidae, Scorpaenodes albaiensis, Scorpaenodes
minor, Japan, Taiwan, new records.

Introduction
Scorpaenodes albaiensis (Evermann and Seale, 1907) was originally described
as a new genus and species, Hypomacrus albaiensis, on the basis of two specimensfrom the Philippines. Subsequently, Smith (1958) described the closely related Hypomacrus minor Smith, 1958 based on 30 specimens from Mozambique. Bothspecies share the following characters not otherwise seen in the genus Scorpaenodes Bleeker, 1857: middle rays of the pectoral fins abruptly longer than those immediately above, and nasal spines absent (Eschmeyer 1986; Poss 1999). Two othernominal species, Hypomacrus africanus Smith, 1958 and H. brocki Schultz, Woods
and Lachner, 1966, were subsequently synonymized with H. albaiensis and H.
minor respectively (Eschmeyer 1986). Eschmeyer (1969) regarded the genus Hypomacrus Evermann and Seale, 1907 (characterized by the two features mentioned
above) as representing a species group within Scorpaenodes, whereas Mandrytsa(2001) believed Hypomacrus to be a valid sister genus of a clade comprising Hoplosebastes Schmidt, 1929 and Scorpaenodes on the basis of a morphological phylogenetic analysis. Much of the latter hypothesis, including the phylogenetic position of Scorpaenodes, was at odds with that subsequently proposed by Imamura(2004). The validity of Hypomacrus should be re-assessed on the basis of further

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morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses; for the moment, however, wefollow the widely recognized generic concept of Eschmeyer (1969) and treat Hypomacrus as a junior synonym of Scorpaenodes.
Poss (1999) reviewed the distributions of Scorpaenodes albaiensis and S. minor
in the western Pacific and regarded the Philippines and Ryukyu Islands, respectively, as their northernmost records. However, our examinations of East Asian
specimens previously identified as S. minor by many authors (e.g., Shimizu 1984;
Shao and Chen 1988; Poss 1999; Nakabo 2000, 2002), in addition to newly collected
specimens, have revealed that those from Taiwan were S. albaiensis and thosefrom the Ryukyu Islands included both S. albaiensis and S. minor. These specimens of S. albaiensis represent the first confirmed records of the species from East
Asia and the Japanese specimens represent the northernmost western Pacific
Ocean records for the species thus far. The East Asian specimens of S. albaiensis
are briefly described below and comparisons of the two species, based on specimens from the Indo-West Pacific (including Taiwan and Japan), are also made.
Synopses of the two species are provided.

Material and Methods
Measurements follow Motomura (2004a, b), with additional measurements(i.e., head width) following Motomura et al. (2005b, 2006a), and maxillary depth following Motomura et al. (2006b). Counts follow Motomura et al. (2005a–c) and Motomura and Johnson (2006), with predorsal scale counts following Motomura et al.
(2006b). Last branched pectoral-fin ray length was measured from the base of theuppermost ray to the tip of the last branched ray. The last two soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins are counted as single rays, each pair being associated with a single pterygiophore. Standard and total lengths are expressed as SL and TL respectively. Terminology of head spines follow Randall and Eschmeyer (2002, fig. 1) andMotomura (2004b, fig. 1) with the following additions: the spine at the base of theuppermost preopercular spine is referred to as the supplemental preopercularspine (Eschmeyer 1965); the spine on the lateral surface of the lacrimal bone is referred to as the lateral lacrimal spine (Motomura and Senou 2008, fig. 2); and thecoronal and pretympanic (as an extra spine) spines are as figured in Chen (1981,
fig. 1) and Motomura et al. (2004, fig. 14b) respectively.
Specimens examined in this study have been deposited in the AustralianMuseum, Sydney (AMS); Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei(ASIZP); California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (CAS); Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima (KAUM); Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of
Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa (URM); Museum Support Center,
Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Suitland (USNM);
and Yokosuka City Museum, Yokosuka (YCM).
The presence of a swimbladder was confirmed in specimens deposited at
KAUM, following dissection of the right side of the abdomen. Osteological characters were observed by radiographs of three specimens of Scorpaenodes albaiensis(KAUM-I. 645–647). The formula for configuration of the anterior neural spines andanterior dorsal fin pterygiophores follows Ahlstrom et al. (1976). Diagnoses of thetwo species are based on specimens from the Indo-Pacific, and the description of S.

Scorpaenodes albaiensis from East Asia

77

albaiensis is based on specimens from East Asia.

Taxonomy
Scorpaenodes albaiensis (Evermann and Seale, 1907)[English name: Longfinger Scorpionfish][New standard Japanese name: Furisode-kasago](Figs 1A, 2A, Tables 1, 2)
Hypomacrus albaiensis Evermann and Seale, 1907: 102, fig. 20 (type locality: Bacon,
Sorsogon Province, Philippines).
Hypomacrus africanus Smith, 1958: 178 (type locality: Zanzibar) [Subjectively invalid; secondarily preoccupied in Scorpaenodes by Scorpaenodes africanus
Pfaff, 1933].
Scorpaenodes albaiensis: Eschmeyer 1986: 471.
East Asian specimens examined. Japan: KAUM-I. 645, 63.7 mm SL, 646, 65.1
mm SL, and 647, 46.8 mm SL, Toguchi Beach, Yomitan, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, 26°2204N, 127°4406E, Y. Sakurai, 17 Sept. 2006, washed up by Typhoon No.
13; KAUM-I. 6429, 78.5 mm SL, 6430, 65.4 mm SL, 6431, 66.3 mm SL, 6432, 58.8 mm SL,
6433, 62.8 mm SL, 6591, 53.1 mm SL, 6592, 49.7 mm SL, and 6593, 40.2 mm SL, Hama
Fishing Port, Nakagusuku, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, 26°1529N,
127°4738E, Y. Sakurai, 13 July 2007, washed up by Typhoon No. 4; URM-P 41473,
74.0 mm SL and 41474, 68.6 mm SL, Chatan, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, H.
Ishimori and M. Kume, 17 Oct. 2001, washed up by Typhoon No. 21. Taiwan:
ASIZP 56237, 46.2 mm SL, Wan-li-tung, Ping-tung, K.-T. Shao, 27 Nov. 1987; ASIZP
56858, 2 specimens, 49.7 and 51.0 mm SL, Nanliao Bay, Lutao Island, 15 m, J.-P.
Chen, 22 Oct. 1993.
Comparative material from the Indo-Pacific. Israel: USNM 355353, 48.1 mm
SL, southern end of Sinai Peninsula, Strait of Jubal, Red Sea, 9.1 m, V. Springer etal., 29 Sept. 1969. Philippines: CAS 75357, 70.2 mm SL, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Province, Luzon, C. Ferraris, 15 Apr. 1980; USNM 55902, holotype of Hypomacrus
albaiensis, 48.9 mm SL, Bacon, Sorsogon, Luzon Island, C. Pierson; USNM 372602,
48.7 mm SL, Princesa Bay, Palawan, 09°47N, 118°44E, 12.2–18.3 m, R. Schroeder, 13
July 1979; USNM 372637, 53.8 mm SL, Bolinao Lagoon, Lingayan Gulf, Pangasinan,
16°26N, 119°56E, 2–15 m, C. Ferraris, 16 Apr. 1980; USNM 372638, 45.8 mm SL, Lingayan Gulf, Pangasinan, 16°26N, 119°56E, 2–15 m, E. Murdy, 16–17 Apr. 1980;
USNM 372683, 52.0 mm SL, west side of Bararin Island, Palawan, 10°5230N,
120°5600E, 13.7 m, V. Springer et al., 23 May 1978; USNM 372684, 44.8 mm SL, southern tip of Negros Island, 09°0227N, 123°0737E, 6–10 m, V. Springer et al., 12 May
1978. Solomon Islands: USNM 380946, 42.6 mm SL, west coast of Tomotu Island,
Santa Cruz Islands, 10°40S, 165°4730E, 10–30 m, J. Williams et al., 29 Sept. 1998;
USNM 382906, 31.0 mm SL, Ndendo Island, Santa Cruz Islands, 5–35 m, 10°4930S,
165°50E, J. Williams et al., 28 Sept. 1998. Indonesia: USNM 210019, 32.3 mm SL,
west of Tandjung Namatatuni, Moluccas, 13.7–15.2 m, V. Springer and M. Gomon,
19 Jan. 1973; USNM 308017, 49.6 mm SL, off northwest shore of Damalawa Islet, Tallabassi Bay, Kabaena Island, 05°1720S, 122°04E, 4–8 m, V. Springer, 24 Feb. 1974.

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Papua New Guinea: USNM 380381, 2 specimens, 26.1 and 53.8 mm SL, north side ofWest Entrance, Hermit Islands, 01°3030S, 144°5915E, 12 m, V. Springer et al., 4
Nov. 1978. Vanuatu: USNM 353504, 42.3 mm SL, Lamen Bay, Epi Island, 16°4400S,
168°0735E, 22.9–27.4 m, J. Williams et al., 13 June 1996; USNM 363767, 47.3 mm SL,
Rowa Islands, Banks Islands, 13°3832S, 167°3018E, 23–29 m, J. Williams et al., 20
May 1997. Fiji: CAS 214127, 44.3 mm SL, off Suva, Viti Levu Island, 18°0952S,
178°2348E, 12.2–19.8 m, D. Greenfield et al., 26 May 1999. Tonga: USNM 336568, 2
specimens, 29.3 and 32.4 mm SL, north of Ohonua Harbor, Eua, 21°1930S,
174°5650W, 21.3–30.0 m, J. Williams et al., 5 Nov. 1993. French Polynesia: USNM
379392, 14.5 mm SL, Rapa, 27°3731S, 144°1800W, 12–18 m, J. Williams et al., 4 Nov.
2002.
Diagnosis. A species of Scorpaenodes with the following combination of characters: nasal spines absent; middle rays of pectoral fin abruptly longer than those
immediately above, length of last branched ray of pectoral fin 58.0–72.5% (mean63.5%) of that of longest pectoral-fin ray; 8 or 9 (mode 9) dorsal-fin soft rays; 15–17(16) pectoral-fin rays; 7–9 (7) predorsal-fin scale rows; 37–42 (40) scale rows in longitudinal series; 4 or 5 (5) scales above lateral line, 10–12 (11) below; 4–6 (5) scale rows
between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; large dark blotch often present
on subopercle; largest specimen examined 78.5 mm SL.
Description. Counts and proportional measurements as percentages of SL of
the East Asian specimens of S. albaiensis are given in Table 1. Selected counts of
the Indo-Pacific specimens of the species are given in Table 2. Characters given in
the diagnosis and Tables are not repeated here.
Body moderately compressed anteriorly, progressively more compressed posteriorly (Fig. 1). Nape and anterior body not arched. Body depth shallow, less thanhead length. Slender tentacles on supraocular, posterior lacrimal, parietal, nuchal,and preopercular spines. Short, broad tentacle on posterior edge of low membranous tube associated with anterior nostril. Distinct tentacles absent from membranes of all fins. Pectoral-fin axil without skin flaps. Scales covering dorsal andlateral surfaces of head and upper margin of maxilla. Well-exposed ctenoid scales
on lateral surface of trunk, scales becoming cycloid on abdomen. Exposed cycloid
scales on anteroventral surface of body. Body scales extending onto basal fin rays
or membranes except for bases of spinous portion of dorsal fin and pelvic fins. Lateral line not strongly sloping downward above dorsoposterior tip of opercle. Seriesof pored lateral-line scales sometimes not complete, lacking from middle or posterior parts of body. Underside of dentary with three well-developed sensory poreson each side, third pore sometimes covered with skin. Pair of small pores behindsymphysial knob of lower jaw in ventral view.
Posterior margin of maxilla not reaching to level of posterior margin of orbit.
No distinct longitudinal ridge on lateral surface of maxilla. Width of symphysial
gap separating premaxillary teeth bands subequal to width of each band. Upperand lower jaws with villiform teeth, several canine teeth at front of jaws. Teeth absent at front of vomer, appearing in 2 or 3 rows posteriorly, forming V-shaped
patch on vomer. Palatine teeth absent. Underside of lower jaw without ridges.
Dorsal profile of snout not steep, forming angle of about 20 degrees to horizontal axis of head and body. Ascending process of premaxilla not intruding into interorbital space, its posterior margin not reaching level of posterior margin of posterior nostril in dorsal view. Median interorbital ridge absent. Interorbital ridges

Scorpaenodes albaiensis from East Asia

79

Fig. 1. Scorpaenodes albaiensis, fresh specimen, KAUM-I. 6429, 78.5 mm SL, Okinawa Island,
Ryukyu Islands, Japan (A) and S. minor, preserved specimen, YCM-P 42256, 35.0 mm SL,
Amami-oshima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan (B).

weakly developed, separated by relatively shallow channel. Interorbital space shallow, with about one-tenth of orbit extending above dorsal profile of head. Preocularspine simple, flattened anteriorly and posteriorly; anterior surface of spine without ridges. Supraocular, postocular, and tympanic spines simple. Interorbital,
coronal, and pretympanic spines absent. Occipital region flat, with no distinct
ridges in front or rear of occiput. Parietal and nuchal spines joined at base. Sphenotic with 1–3 small, indistinct spines. Postorbital without spines. Pterotic spine
simple, often not forming spine (simply a ridge). Upper posttemporal spine absent.
Lower posttemporal, supracleithral, and cleithral spines simple.
Lateral lacrimal spine absent; lateral surface of lacrimal with ridge. Anterior
and posterior lacrimal spines simple, triangular, not strongly developed. Suborbital ridge with 2 spines, first spine on main suborbital ridge below space between
posterior margins of pupil and orbit, second spine at end of suborbital ridge. Spacebetween ventral margin of eye and suborbital ridge remarkably narrow. Subor-

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Table 1. Counts and measurements of East Asian specimens of Scorpaenodes albaiensis andS. minor, expressed as percentages of standard length with means in parentheses.

Standard length (SL, mm)
Counts
Dorsal-fin rays
Pectoral-fin rays
Anal-fin rays
Pelvic-fin rays
Caudal-fin rays
Scale rows in longitudinal series
Pored lateral-line scales
Scales above lateral line
Scales below lateral line
Scale rows1
Scale rows2
Predorsal-fin scale rows
Gill rakers (upperlowertotal)
Vertebrae
Measurements (% of SL)
Body depth
Body width
Head length
Snout length
Orbit diameter
Interorbital width3Interorbital width4
Head width
Upper-jaw length
Maxillary depth
Postorbital length
Between tips of opercular spines
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
12th dorsal-fin spine length
13th dorsal-fin spine length
Longest dorsal-fin ray length (2nd or 3rd)
1st anal-fin spine length
2nd anal-fin spine length
3rd anal-fin spine length
Longest anal-fin ray length5Pectoral-fin ray length6
Last branched pectoral-fin ray length

S. albaiensisn16

S. minorn3

40.2–78.5

29.8–35.6

XIII, 8–98
i–ii6–8vi–viii15–16
III, 5
I, 5
88
37–42
19–23
4–5
10–12
5–6
4–6
7–9
4–610–1515–20
1014

XIII, 8i–ii7–8vi15
III, 5
I, 5
88
29–31
19–23
4
9–10
4
4
6–7
4–58–913
1014

28.7–33.9 (30.4)
16.3–20.7 (18.5)
43.0–46.6 (44.5)
11.8–12.9 (12.4)
9.6–12.7 (10.7)
4.3–5.5 (5.0)
3.8–4.7 (4.3)
12.2–13.7 (13.0)
20.8–22.2 (21.3)
6.6–8.2 (7.7)
21.3–23.1 (22.1)
3.9–5.1 (4.4)
41.1–44.2 (42.3)
74.6–77.9 (76.6)
40.1–44.9 (42.4)
5.3–6.5 (5.9)
8.4–10.0 (9.4)
10.7–12.4 (11.5)
11.6–12.4 (12.1)
11.2–13.9 (12.2)
4.9–5.8 (5.3)
8.4–10.1 (9.3)
15.4–17.4 (16.6)
6.8–8.6 (7.7)
19.2–23.1 (21.1)
15.5–18.4 (16.6)
19.6–22.9 (21.2)
29.9–42.3 (36.1)
21.4–24.6 (22.6)

30.9–32.6 (31.9)
17.7–19.1 (18.5)
42.3–46.0 (44.3)
11.7–12.9 (12.2)
11.1–11.7 (11.4)
5.6–6.0 (5.8)
4.7–5.6 (5.2)
13.7–13.8 (13.7)
21.3–23.2 (22.3)
8.2–8.9 (8.5)
20.0–22.8 (21.5)
4.3–5.0 (4.7)
41.9–43.5 (42.7)
72.3–75.2 (74.2)
38.9–41.6 (40.1)
5.1–6.3 (5.6)
8.7–9.7 (9.2)
11.7–12.3 (12.0)
12.4–12.9 (12.6)
12.8–13.2 (13.0)
3.4–4.6 (4.0)
7.7–10.3 (9.0)
16.4–17.7 (17.1)
7.1–7.4 (7.3)
20.3–20.5 (20.4)
15.8–16.3 (16.0)
21.5–22.0 (21.7)
40.6–44.9 (42.7)
20.7–22.8 (21.7)

Scorpaenodes albaiensis from East Asia

81

Table 1. Continued.

Pelvic-fin spine length
Longest pelvic-fin ray length7
Caudal-fin length
Caudal-peduncle length
Caudal-peduncle depthS. albaiensisn16

S. minorn3

14.6–17.3 (15.6)
22.2–25.9 (23.5)
24.6–27.7 (26.0)
14.3–17.2 (16.0)
9.1–10.5 (9.6)

16.6–18.1 (17.4)
23.7–25.2 (24.4)
24.0–26.5 (25.3)
17.1–18.6 (17.8)
10.3–10.7 (10.5)

1
Between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; 2 between 6th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; 3 atvertical midline of eye; 4 at posterior end of preocular spine base; 5 1st ray longest in S. albaiensis, and 1st
or 2nd ray in S. minor; 6 10th ray longest in S. albaiensis, and 9th or 10th ray in S. minor; 7 2nd ray longest
in S. albaiensis, and 2nd or 3rd ray in S. minor; 8 one deformed specimen with XII, 10.

bital pit present. Preopercle with 5 spines; uppermost spine largest with supplemental preopercular spine on its base; first and second spines with narrow base;third to fifth spines with broad base; space between second and third spines broadest. Preopercle, between uppermost preopercular spine and upper end of preopercle, without serrae or spines. Upper opercular spine simple without median ridge.
Lower opercular spine simple with low median ridge. Space between upper andlower opercular spines without ridges. Posterior tips of upper and lower opercularspines not reaching and often reaching opercular margin, respectively.
Origin of first dorsal-fin spine above supracleithral spine. Posterior margin of
Table 2. Frequency comparison of selected meristic characters in Indo-Pacific specimens of
Scorpaenodes albaiensis and S. minor.
Dorsal-fin soft rays1

S. albaiensis
S. minor

7

8

9

5
21

30

3

Pectoral-fin rays

Predorsal-fin scale rows

15/15 15/16 16/16 16/17
6
23

6
1

21

5

6

7

8

9
1

11

18
3

12

1

1

Scale rows in longitudinal series

S. albaiensis
S. minor

27

28

29

30

31

32

1

1

3

4

7

2

—

37

38

39

40

41

42

1

3

2

9

8

8

Scales rows between
last dorsal-fin spinebase and lateral line

Scales above /below lateral line

S. albaiensis
S. minor
1

4

5

5
13

25
3

/

8

9

10

11

12

4

5

6

5

1
9

21
7

7

7

8
5

15

2

One deformed specimen of S. albaiensis with XII, 10.

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opercular membrane reaching level of base of third dorsal-fin spine. Posterior tipof pectoral fin extending beyond level of origin of anal fin. Origin of pelvic-fin spine
just below origin of pectoral fin. Posterior tip of depressed pelvic fin not reachingorigin of anal fin. Origin of first anal-fin spine slightly posterior to level of last dorsal-fin spine.
Gill rakers relatively short and spinous; slit present behind fourth gill arch.
Formula for configuration of anterior neural spines and anterior dorsal pterygiophores //21/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/11/. Dorsal series of caudal-procurrent rays 4,
ventral series 3. Swimbladder present.
Distribution. Known from tropical and subtropical waters in the Indo-Pacific,
ranging through the east coast of Africa, Red Sea, Seychelles, Maldive Islands,
Chagos Archipelago, northern Australia, Southeast Asia, southwestern Pacific(Randall 2005; this study), French Polynesia (this study), and Taiwan and Japan(this study). Specimens have been collected from depths of 2 to 35 m, and washed
up on shore following typhoons.
Remarks. Yoshino and Nishijima (1981) reported two specimens of Hypomarcus minor (Scorpaenodes minor) from Sesoko Island, off Okinawa Island, Ryukyu
Islands. Subsequently, many Japanese authors, e.g., Shimizu (1984) and Nakabo(2000, 2002), have referred to this Japanese records of S. minor without re-examining the specimens. Although their two specimens (37.2 and 59.8 mm SL) lacked registration numbers, a photograph of the smaller example when fresh was provided
as plate III, fig. 4 in their paper. The same photograph later appeared in Masuda etal. (1984, pl. 279L). We examined the smaller specimen (re-measured as 35.6 mm SL;
registered as URM-P 4174) and confirmed it to have been correctly identified as S.
minor, but the identification of the larger specimen could not be confirmed. It was
unavailable for this study, not being found in the URM fish collection. Judging
from its size, however, it is most likely to have been S. albaiensis (see Comparisons). Nakabo (2000, 2002) provided an illustration of a 6-cm SL fish identified as S.
minor, but that specimen was in fact S. albaiensis, having a large body size.
Although Shao and Chen (1988) reported S. minor from Taiwan and included a
photograph (as pl. 58, fig. 1), their specimen (ASIZP 56237, 46.2 mm SL) is here determined to be S. albaiensis. Two additional specimens (ASIZP 56858, 49.7 and 51.0mm SL) from Taiwan, also examined by us, were similarly identified as S. albaiensis. Although specimens of S. minor have apparently not been collected from Taiwan (fish collections of ASIZP and NTUM surveyed during this study), S. minor isprobably distributed in Taiwanese waters since it occurs in both the Philippines
and the Ryukyu Islands (see Distributional implications).
Characters of the specimens from Taiwan and the 11 specimens newly collected off Okinawa Island agreed with those of the holotype of Hypomacrus albaiensis (USNM 55902, 48.9 mm SL, Philippines) and non-type material of Scorpaenodes
albaiensis from the Indo-Pacific examined during this study. Accordingly, the 16
Taiwanese and Japanese specimens of S. albaiensis represent the first reliable
records of the species from East Asia.
Comparisons. Scorpaenodes albaiensis and S. minor can be distinguishedfrom all their congeners by lacking nasal spines and having the middle rays of thepectoral fin abruptly longer than those immediately above (Eschmeyer 1986; Poss
1999; Randall 2005). Although the two species are similar to each other in overall
body appearance (e.g., having a long snout, long middle pectoral-fin rays, and slen-Scorpaenodes albaiensis from East Asia83

der body) and color pattern (e.g., often having a large dark blotch on the subopercle), S. albaiensis tends to have smaller body scales than those of S. minor. Although the numbers of predorsal-fin scale rows, scales above and below the lateralline, and scale rows between the last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line for S. albaiensis tend to be higher than those for S. minor, these meristic characters of both
species overlap narrowly (Table 2). The numbers of scale rows in longitudinal series, however, provide a clear separation of the two species (37–42 in S. albaiensis
vs 27–32 in S. minor; Table 2). In addition, S. albaiensis differs from S. minor inhaving higher counts of the dorsal-fin soft rays (mode 9, vs 8 in the latter) and pectoral-fin rays (mode 16, vs 15; Table 2). Finally, adults of S. albaiensis (78.5 mm maximum recorded SL (97.0 mm TL), KAUM-I. 6429, Japan) attain a larger size thanthose of S. minor (39.0 mm maximum recorded SL, USNM 99783, Philippines).

Fig. 2. Distributional records of Scorpaenodes albaiensis (A) and S. minor (B) on the basis ofcollected specimens. Closed and open symbols indicate specimens examined in this study andother specimens previously recorded in reliable reports, respectively.

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Hiroyuki Motomura et al.

Distributional implications. Scorpaenodes albaiensis and S. minor follow the
distribution pattern typical of many tropical Indo-Pacific fishes (Fig. 2). In thewestern Pacific, the northernmost records of S. albaiensis and S. minor are off Okinawa Island and Amami-oshima Island, respectively, in the Ryukyu Islands. Although the ichthyofauna of the Japanese mainland has been well surveyed, neither species has been recorded off the mainland coast, suggesting that within
Japanese waters both species are indeed restricted to the Ryukyu Islands.
The Kuroshio Current, a strong warm-water current, flows from off the Philippines to the Pacific coast of southern Japan, via Taiwan and far west of the Ryukyu
Islands. Because the current flows from west to east across the Tokara Islands (located between Yaku-shima and Amami-oshima Islands), S. albaiensis and S. minor
are unlikely to extend north of Amami-oshima Island, owing to the barrier formedby the current.
Dissection of the abdomen on the right side of the largest specimen of S. albaiensis (KAUM-I. 6429) from Okinawa Island showed it to have an expanded
gonad, full of relatively large-sized ova (about 0.4 mm diameter). This suggests thatthe species reproduces in Japanese waters.
Scorpaenodes minor (Smith, 1958)[English name: Minor Scorpionfish][Standard Japanese name: Yubinaga-kasago](Figs 1B, 2B, Tables 1, 2)
Hypomacrus minor Smith, 1958: 178 (type locality: Bazaruto Island, Mozambique).
Hypomacrus brocki Schultz et al., 1966: 39, figs 138i, 143 (type locality: Talisse Island, Indonesia).
Scorpaenodes minor: Shimizu 1984: 314.
East Asian specimens examined. Japan: URM-P 4174, 35.6 mm SL, west of
Sesoko Island, off Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, 18 m, T. Yoshino et al., 12 Sept.
1977; YCM-P 34460, 29.8 mm SL, Nishikomi, Setouchi, Amami-oshima Island,
Ryukyu Islands, 31 Aug. 1994; YCM-P 42256, 35.0 mm SL, Saneku, Kakeroma Island
off south of Amami-oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, 18 Sept. 2003.
Comparative material from the Indo-Pacific. Philippines: USNM 99783,
paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 39.0 mm SL, Romblon Reef, Romblon, 26 Mar. 1909;
USNM 133076, paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 34.1 mm SL, Limbones Cove, Manila
Bay, 8 Feb. 1909; USNM 372689, 30.0 mm SL, off Bonbonon Point, southern tip of Negros Oriental, 09°0245N, 123°0737E, 12.2 m, V. Springer et al., 13 May 1978. Caroline Islands: USNM 224509, 24.6 mm SL, southwest of Ponape, 06°52N, 158°06E,
36.6 m, V. Springer et al., 15 Sept. 1980. Marshall Islands: USNM 140090, paratypeof Hypomacrus brocki, 26.6 mm SL, Latoback Island, Rongerik Atoll, L. Schultz andHerald, 28 June 1946; USNM 140091, paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 20.8 mm SL,
Arji Island, Bikini Atoll, 6–12 m, Herald and Brook, 7 Aug. 1946; USNM 140228,
paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 27.2 mm SL, Kieshiechi Island, Rongelap Atoll, 6m, Brock and Herald, 24 July 1946; USNM 361009, 20.4 mm SL, Taka Island, 9.1 m, A.
Amerson, 22 Oct. 1964. Solomon Islands: USNM 384521, 30.7 mm SL, Graciosa Bay,
Ndendo Island, Santa Cruz Islands, 10°4412S, 166°4930E, 3–17 m, J. Williams etal., 26 Sept. 1998. Papua New Guinea: USNM 380373, 24.2 mm SL, Amot Island,Scorpaenodes albaiensis from East Asia

85

Hermit Islands, 01°33S, 144°59E, V. Springer et al., 30 Oct. 1978. Indonesia: USNM
99782, holotype of Hypomacrus brocki, 34.4 mm SL, Talisse Island, 3–5 m, 9 Nov.
1909; USNM 133077, paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 29.5 mm SL, Patiente Strait, 3–8
m, 1 Dec. 1909; USNM 136430, paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 32.2 mm SL, Talisse
Island, 3–5 m, 9 Nov. 1909; USNM 136438, paratype of Hypomacrus brocki, 26.7 mm
SL, Gulf of Tonimi, Buka Island, 2–5 m, 20 Nov. 1909; USNM 266025, 19.9 mm SL,
north shore of Banda Island, 04°3250S, 129°5400E, 3 m, V. Springer et al., 8 Mar.
1974. Australia: AMS I.20757-022, 28.6 mm SL, Raine Island, Queensland, 11°36S,
144°01E, 20 m, R. McKay, 13 Feb. 1979. Loyalty Islands: USNM 324422, 25.5 mm SL,
Bagaat, Ouvea Atoll, 20°3719S, 166°1612E, 9–12 m, J.-L. Menou et al., 18 Nov. 1991.
Fiji: CAS 214156, 35.4 mm SL, off Suva, Viti Levu Island, 18°0542S, 178°1348E,
10.7–16.8 m, D. Greenfield et al., 25 May 1999. Wallis Islands: USNM 373672, 20.0mm SL, northwest of Pte. Vaha’a’Utu, Île Uvea, 13°1650S, 176°1555W, 2–20 m, J.
Williams et al., 10 Nov. 2000. Tonga: USNM 334501, 22.7 mm SL, Eua, 21°1815S,
174°2620W, 18.3–30.8 m, J. Williams et al., 3 Nov. 1993. French Polynesia: USNM
392263, 19.6 mm SL, Vaiare Pass, Moorea, 17°3114S, 149°4544W, 25–35 m, D. Lecchini et al., 30 Mar. 2006.
Diagnosis. A species of Scorpaenodes with the following combination of characters: nasal spines absent; middle rays of pectoral fin abruptly longer than those
immediately above, length of last branched ray of pectoral fin 58.1–62.8% (mean60.4%) of that of longest pectoral-fin ray; 7 or 8 (mode 8) dorsal-fin soft rays; 15 or 16(15) pectoral-fin rays; 5–7 (6) predorsal-fin scale rows; 27–32 (31) scale rows in longitudinal series; 4 or 5 (4) scales above lateral line, 8–10 (9) below; 4 or 5 (4) scale rows
between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; large dark blotch often present
on subopercle; largest specimen examined 39.0 mm SL.
Distribution. Known from scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific, ranging
from South Africa east to French Polynesia, and the Ryukyu Islands south tonortheastern Australia (Poss 1999; this study) at depths of 2–36 m. No records from
central Indian Ocean.

Acknowledgments
The first author is especially grateful to J. Williams and staff of USNM; M. McGrouther, S. Reader, and H. Amanda (AMS); W. Eschmeyer, D. Catania, T.
Iwamoto, and M. Hoang (CAS); K.-T. Shao, H.-C. Ho, and Y.-C. Liao (ASIZP); T.
Yoshino and H. Ishimori (URM); and K. Hagiwara and M. Hayashi (YCM) for theirkind hospitality during his stay at their museums. We thank T. Hashimoto(KAUM) for taking radiographs of S. albaiensis, and Y. Haraguchi, M. Matsunuma,
G. Ogihara, and M. Meguro (KAUM) for their curatorial assistance. This study was
supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) (19208019) from theJapan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan, and a Grant-in-Aid forYoung Scientists (B) (19770067) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports andCulture, Japan.

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Hiroyuki Motomura et al.

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