Scorpaenodes quadrispinosus Greenfield & Matsuura, 2002
Fourspine scorpionfish
photo by Greenfield, D.W.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  9.98 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 12 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific : Christmas Island to Fiji and the Marshall Islands northward to Ryukyu Islands southward to Papua New Guinea. Also recorded in Australia (Ref. 76833).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6. Distinguished from all other Scorpaenodes species by having the first two spines on the suborbital ridge extending dorsally above the lower orbit margin; no distinct dark spot on opercle, subopercle, or spinous dorsal fin; pectoral fin rays usually 17; vertical scale rows 39-43; head and upper body light cream overlaid by dark brown to black pigment pattern; lower half of body light cream to white, edges of scales on lower half pink (Ref. 46823); Suborbital ridge with four spinules; presence of interorbital and coronal spines, small; depth of body 2.8-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found in coral reefs in 0-12 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.