Parapterois
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| Parapterois | ||||||||||||||
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 Parapterois heterura, blackfoot firefish
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| P. heterura (Bleeker, 1856) |
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| P. macrura (Alcock, 1896) |
Parapterois is a genus of lionfish, a group of venomous fish in the scorpionfish family.[1] There are two species, P. heterura and P. macrura.[2] P. heterura is occasionally known as the blackfoot firefish.[3] The other species, P. macrura, is poorly known; this fish has only been mentioned in a handful of scientific papers and has remained obscure.[4] These fish originate from marine environments in the Indian Ocean or near it. These venomous fish are occasionally seen as aquarium fish.
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[edit] Taxonomy
Currently, the genus Parapterois includes two valid species.[2] P. heterura was first described by Bleeker as Pterois heterurus in 1856, but he subsequently erected the genus Parapterois in 1876, designating P. heterurus as the type species. Eventually, the name was changed to P. heterura due to Parapterois being feminine.[3] P. macrura was also initially described by Alcock as a Pterois species, but it was later moved to Parapterois.[4]
P. heterura has a number of synonyms, including Ebosia pavo, E. starksi, Pterois jordani, P. natalensis, P. nigripinnis, and P. tanabensis.[4]
[edit] Anatomy and appearance
Parapterois is similar to the other lionfish in appearance. Their bodies are red and white, and their pectoral fins are expanded. These fish are venomous. P. heterura may reach a maximum of about 23 centimetres (9 in) TL.[3] However, most specimens are much smaller; larger adults of both species are about 11 centimetres (4 in) in length.[4]
A number of differences set this genus apart from Pterois, in which P. heterura was first described to. Parapterois have more (18-21) pectoral fin rays than Pterois (12-17), and, in the former, these rays may be branched, while they are never branched in Pterois. Parapterois have two anal fin spines, while Pterois have three. Also, as a more obvious trait, the caudal fin of these fish are truncated with longer upper and lower caudal fin rays, while the caudal fin in Pterois is rounded.[4]
P. macrura and P. heterura differ in that P. heterura has scales in a pit between the posterior nostrils while P. macrura does not (except for a population of P. heterura found off the coasts of West India, South Africa, and Mozambique, which may be a different species).[4] These species do not differ much in fin spine, fin ray, gill raker counts, and most body proportions. Their differences lie in a small difference in head proportions.[4] Also, in adults, the upper margin of the eye of P. heterura is below the base of the first dorsal fin spine, while it is above in P. macrura (this trait is not consistent in juveniles, in which the eye margin may be below in both species).[4]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
Parapterois originate from the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific Ocean. P. heterura is widely distributed on the southeastern coast of Africa as well as off Japan and in Indonesia. By contrast, P. macrura is only found off the west coast of India.[4]
P. heterura may usually be found in sheltered coastal bays with a soft bottom, such as fine sand or mud. It's found in depths ranging from 40-300 metres (130-1000 ft).[3]
[edit] Ecology
Parapterois are sedentary fish. P. heterura may even bury itself within the substrate.[3] P. heterura flashes its brightly-colored pectoral fins to startle predators and escape, but it may also use these fins to corner prey.[3] This behavior has been demonstrated in other lionfish.
[edit] In the aquarium
Despite the popularity of other lionfish, Parapterois species are only rarely found in the aquarium trade.[5] P. heterura can be found on certain online marine aquarium fish stores, but is not common.
[edit] References
- ^ "Parapterois". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Mar 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b Parapterois (TSN 166954). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 09 Apr 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "Parapterois heterura". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Apr 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Motomura, Hiroyuki (2004). "Morphological Comparison of a Poorly Known Scorpionfish, Parapterois macrura, with a Related Species, P. heterura (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae)" (PDF). Zoological Studies 43: 1–7.
- ^ Fenner, Bob. The Scorpionfishes We Call Lions, Family Scorpaenidae, subfamily Pteroinae. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
