Therefore, the presence of these spines is not particularly mentioned among the accounts of the other genera and species. These spines are present only in Scorpaenodcs and are not further mentioned in the accounts of the other genera and species.
8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 9 eye which it seems best to designate according to their position,
10 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 the formulas at the head of the accounts of the different species, the
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG II
In the next size examined of the same species, 30 mm, the third anal spine is as in the adult. In the species Scorpaena, on the other hand, it is possible that the third anal spine looks the same as in the adult.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 13
14 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 1 5
They are often located at the base of the various spines on the head, along the lateral line, on the upper part of the eyeball, or irregularly distributed throughout the head and body. Overall, it would best benefit the advancement of scorpaenid taxonomy if too much emphasis were not placed on these structures as taxonomic features.
20 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 supraocular and postocular spines is on the average better developed
KEY TO THE GENERA AND SPECIES
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 21
22 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 23
24 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 bined number of gill rakers and tubercles on
Preorbital with 3 free spinous points (except in . specimens of pluuiicri below 65 mm.; such small specimens can be distinguished from the other species by the characteristic color pattern of plumia and the combination of its structural characters as indicated under its account). Area at inner lower pectoral angle black with whitish spots (white spots not well marked in small specimens); body mottled and mottled with light and dark areas.
26 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 Genus SEBASTES Cuvier
Additional scales begin to appear at about 120 mm; in smaller specimens, they are very few and se-. Samples B and C from the western Atlantic show a significant difference in the number of dorsal rays compared to the 3 samples from the eastern Atlantic; 13 or 14 rays in 52 specimens from the western Atlantic compared with 15 rays in 3 specimens in the eastern Atlantic.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 29 Differences in proportional measurements are contrasted above be-
30 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 Genus HELICOLENUS Goode and Bean
The subgroups differ in the relative frequency of the appearance of a spine on the suborbital ridge, in the number of scales and. Description.—Spine on suborbital ridge usually absent, sometimes present (on one side in i of 7 specimens).
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 33 HELICOLENUS DACTYLOPTERUS MADERENSIS Goode and Bean
Populations. According to the measurements given above, the Gulf population of this subspecies differs from that of the Atlantic in having, on average, a larger eye and a narrower interorbital. The depth of interorbital concavity is largely a matter of individual variability and can hardly be used as a specific character. It is clear that eye size differs in the minor population and cannot be used even in subspecies division.
The holotype has a blunt projection in the normal position of a spinous point on the suborbital ridge.
36 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 HELICOLENUS DACTYLOPTERUS LAHILLEI Norman
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISIIES GINSBURG 37 Genus SCORPAENODES Bleeker
38 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
Interorbital, snout and cheek below front of eye with very small not compressed scales; jaw for a moderate extent along its upper part with similar small scales are present or absent. Anterior and larger part of interorbitals, snout and cheek under front of eye with numerous papillae, some of them inside. a wide transverse white subpupiltomaxillary area; dark pigment somewhat more concentrated on posterior part of spinous back; pectoral and dorsal soft with small, rather pale brown spots.
The figure of the species published by Metzlaar shows rather sharply contrasting light and dark tones with two dark, broadly crossed areas on the posterior part of the body and the caudal peduncle.
42 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 spinous points moderate or virtually absent; lower posttemporal
Parietal ridge divided into two parts, both ending in spines, anterior part slightly longer; frontal spine in line with postocular, placed slightly away from parietal ridge; upper posttemporal very small or absent, lower posttemporal well developed; sphenotic in the form of 2 parallel, transverse rows of small thorny tips that decrease downwards,. Scales on face mostly ctenoid, those on front of thorax and pectoral base mostly cycloid; snout and greater part of interorbital without scales. Longest third dorsal spine equal to postorbital part of head, moderately longer than fourth, then gradually decreasing; penultimate spine about five-sixths as long as last spine.
The third spine is extended in specimens over 90-110 mm.; becoming noticeably long in large specimens, longer than postorbital part of head, nearly twice as long as second spine, reaching base of eighth to tenth spines when depressed.
46 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 Fourth spine a little longer than second; gradually decreasing in
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 47
121Development.— Small specimens examined, although most in development.— Small specimens examined, although most not in good condition, show that the development of spines on the preopercle is similar to that described above for long spines. Although not rare offshore, this species is apparently not as common as longispinis, especially in the Gulf, from where only 2 small specimens 58–72 mm. This species has a deeper body than longispinis (Table 10), which is useful in separating specimens larger than 65 mm, but the two species overlap somewhat in this character and become of little value in specimens under 50 mm.
These two characters are not of much practical value because
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 49 these two characters are not of much practical value, because of the
Fourth dorsal spine longest, thence gradually down to penultimate, or fourth to sixth subequal; penultimate spine about three-quarters as long as last; longest dorsal spine a little shorter than snout and considerably shorter than postorbital part of head. One specimen examined in the Chicago Natural History Museum, 324 mm., but not directly compared, has the eye relatively smaller in relation to the snout and interorbital and the suborbital ridge is nearly smooth, with one slightly raised tubercle-like projection.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 5 1
It differs in having ctenoid scales; in the greater degree of scales, the shape of the pectoral muscle and the position of the abdomen. In the structure of the scales and their extent it corresponds approximately to Trachyscorpia, and is compared with the latter under its ac-. The shape of the preopercle and its spiny anchor is approximately the same in both sexes.
Upper posttemporal spine absent except in juveniles (see below); suborbital spinous points usually 4, sometimes 3 or 5; in large specimens (3 specimens 420-465 mm) the suborbital spines are greatly reduced and the crest becomes serrated, meaning the crest is moderately serrated, the serration is somewhat interrupted; cleithral spine compara-.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 55 Although the interval on the midback between the stump and the first
56 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL, 121 spots or shadings shown by this species ; but the color is highly vari-
They differ in the fact that the first preopercular spine is the longest, in the position and length of the ventral, and the pectoral shape. In general, Trachyscorpia is perhaps closest to Osorioia Fowler (1938, p. 63), which agrees with it in having ctenoid scales and closely resembles it in breast shape and other characters. The specimen from the East Atlantic in the National Museum agrees generally with the previously published measurements of echinata given above.
Comparison. This species is easily distinguished from other western Atlantic scorpaenids by the characters given in the key.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 63 nearest echinata from the eastern Atlantic and the differences between
The approximate size at which a given character changes from the juvenile to the mature state is given under the separate accounts of the species. In their young the anterior part of the parietal ridge is somewhat longer than the posterior part; while in mature specimens, except in hergi, the two parts are unequal. The edge of the scales in small specimens has a gentle undulation which is especially noticeable in plumieri.
Opaque, usually whitish, rather narrow columns descending from the line marking the boundary between the upper opaque and lower transparent parts of the eye, the columns expanding into rounded areas at their lower ends, quite producing the effect of inverted mushroom-like figures on the transparent part of the eye (these marks often few or undeveloped in specimens 55 mm or smaller).
68 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
Short, elongate, oblong or wide, dark, whitish areas extending to the transparent part of the eye at the base of several tentacles in the horizontal row on the eyeball present or more often absent; when. Populations.— The two Caribbean specimens examined are those entered in Table 4 as having 41 rows of scales, while those from the coast of the United States and the Yucatan Peninsula have 42-49 scales. Comparing these with the measurements of three similar-sized specimens from the coast of the United States given above, tropical American specimens average a shorter abdomen and thorax, a deeper body, and a wider head and jaw. long, a shorter snout, a bigger eye. , and a narrower interorbital.
While the exact rate of divergence of the tropical American population is, of course, indeterminable from two specimens alone, it appears to be no greater than that of racial proportions.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 7
72 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 with a smooth surface, with growth becoming much wririkled in a
8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPION FISHES — GINSBURG 73well-developed and fimbriated and other fairly well-developed tentacles are well-developed and fimbriated, and other fairly well-developed tentacles are distributed over the head and body, being especially conspicuous along the course of the lateral line, at its anterior part. . The appearance of the chest in the larger specimens of agassizi is. while the chest has a normally smooth and scaled surface as in the other species. It has 2 spines united by membrane and separated from the rest of the fin by a space of considerable extent.
Although the center spine has been reduced in the intervening space and the specimen appears normal, it is approximately equivalent to 5".
74 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121
Comparison.—This species is distinguished from its Western Atlantic congeners by its relatively high number of scales and its distinctive color pattern, particularly the presence of two dark spots behind the head and small black spots on the pectoral shaft, although - vergence is not expressed. The name is generally and correctly placed by the authors in the synonymy of brasiliensis. The structural characters of the cole type fall easily within this range of variability.
Nichols, in his account of colesi, describes the three or two large lateral spots and the small dark axillary spots characteristic of brasiliensis.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISIIES GINSBURG 'J'J SCORPAENA GRANDICORNIS Cuvier and Valenciennes
Anarea in upper pectoral angle extending partly on side of body and partly on inner surface of fin, with numerous very small, crowded, whitish, rounded spots, often edged with dark pigment. The anterior spine is very small in young fish and disappears with growth, and the size at disappearance varies widely among individuals. The smallest examined specimen without an anterior spine is 59 mm, and the largest with one is no mm.
Records in the literature attributing Grandicornis to Cape Cod probably stem from a misidentification, as a lot in the National Museum (58876) from Katama Bay, MarthasVineyard, containing four specimens 37-53 mm.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 79 While no definite depth records are available, grandicornis seems to
Development.- The third and fourth pectoral rays are forked. a short distance in the least examined specimen, 33 mm. test all rays are still unbranched. It develops almost as in the adult at around 50 mm. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPION FISHES GINSBURG 8l bergi). The difference in the relative length of the second and third anal spines may be a population difference.
However, it roughly matches in color pattern and important structural features with the types and other specimens of bergies.
84 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 ing exceptions, besides the difference in the number of pectoral rays
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 85
Comparison.—This species and the Plumiers differ from their other congeners, except Microlepis , in 3 free spinous points on the distal edge of the preorbital, and their distinguishing characters are thus reversed in the key. The color pattern of adults is not radically different; it is simply a modification of the juvenile model. The suborbital fossa begins to appear between 60 and 70 mm, and a trace of the middle preorbital spinous point somewhat later, between 65 and 75 mm.
This subspecies is the most common of all scorpions. Table ii. Frequency distribution of the number of pectoral rays, scales and.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 9I
The single type nuttingi is said to differ from plumieri in having five branched pectoral rays (8 such rays shown in the figure) instead of i. The other differences mentioned in the original description of nuttingi are largely determined by individual variability. Almost all fish species can be broken down into a number of taxonomic units using such small population differences.
Recognizing such minor differences by formally providing scientific names would make nomenclature too burdensome, and would not serve any useful purpose in the current state of ichthyology.
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES GINSBURG 93
94 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 ments in both subspecies, and color differences do not distinguish them
NO. 8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPIONFISHES — GINSBURG 95 The relative depth of the occipital pit and the interorbital width
8 WESTERN ATLANTIC SCORPION FISH — GINSBURG 95The relative depth of the occipital pit and the interorbital width. The frontal spine is aligned with the postocular, laterad of the parietal border, as in the above two. However, the precise enumeration of the nodules on the front of the lower limb is associated with some problems.
In particular, it has well-developed cavities on the surface of the main skeleton, which are bridged by the thin integument.
LITERATURE CITED
INDEX
I02 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 121 Interorbital spines, 7
