Pteroidichthys
{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Pteroidichthys amboinensis.jpg
| image_caption = Pteroidichthys amboinensis
| taxon = Pteroidichthys
| authority = Bleeker, 1856
| synonyms = * Pteropelor Fowler, 1938
| synonyms_ref = {{Cof family | family = Scorpaenidae | access-date = 25 January 2022}}
| type_species = Pteroidichthys amboinensis
| type_species_authority = Bleeker, 1856
}}
Pteroidichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Taxonomy
Pteroidichthys was first described as a genus in 1856 by the Dutch herpetologist, ichthyologist and physician Pieter Bleeker when he described Pteroidichthys amboinensis and he placed it in a monotypic genus. The genus name is a compound of pteroides which means "similar to Pterois", and ichthys meaning "fish". Bleeker thought that this taxon was close to the lionfishes but was distinguished by, among other features, the lack of head spines.{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/perciformes9/ | title = Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 2 October 2021 | access-date = 26 January 2022 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}
Species
There are currently 4 recognized species in this genus:{{FishBase genus|genus=Pteroidichthys|month=August|year=2021}}
- Pteroidichthys acutus Motomura & Kanade, 2015 {{cite journal | author1 = Motomura, H. | author2 = Kanade, Y. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2015 | title = Review of the scorpionfish genus Pteroidichthys (Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 4057 | issue = 4 | pages = 490–510 | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.4057.4.2}} (Longsnout weedy scorpionfish)
- Pteroidichthys amboinensis Bleeker, 1856 (Ambon scorpionfish)
- Pteroidichthys caussei Motomura & Kanade, 2015 (Causse's scorpionfish)
- Pteroidichthys noronhai (Fowler, 1938) (Noronha's scorpionfish)
Characteristics
Pteroidichthys scorpionfishes have a body which is strongly compressed and elongated, the width of the body is equivalent to 10–24% of their standard length while its depth is equivalent to 28–40% of its standard length. They have 12 spines in their dorsal fin and there are no black blotches on the lower part of the caudal fin.{{cite web | author = Dianne J. Bray | title = Pteroidichthys | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 27 January 2022 | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/genus/1275 | publisher = Museums Victoria}} These scorpionfishes vary in size from a maximum standard length of {{cvt|4.1|cm}} in P. acutus to a total length of {{cvt|12|cm}} in P. amboinensis.
Distribution and habitat
Pteroidichthys scorpionfishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, occurring in the Red Sea as well.{{cite journal | author1 = Fricke, Ronald | author2 = Golani, Daniel | author3 = Appelbaum-Golani, Brenda | name-list-style = amp | year = 2015 | title = Confirmed record of the Ambon scorpionfish, Pteroidichthys amboinensis from the Red Sea (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) | journal = Marine Biodiversity Records | volume = 8 | issue = e113 | doi = 10.1017/S1755267215000949}} It is found as far north as Japan and south to Australia.{{cite iucn |author=Motomura, H. |author2=Matsuura, K.|name-list-style=amp |year=2016 |title=Pteroidichthys noronhai |page=e.T69799144A69801017 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69799144A69801017.en |access-date=26 January 2022}} They are demersal fishes which occur over soft substrates.{{cite iucn |author=Motomura, H. |author2=Matsuura, K. |name-list-style = amp |date=2016 |title=Pteroidichthys amboinensis |page=e.T69798967A69801012 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69798967A69801012.en |access-date=18 November 2021}} These fishes are found in depths that range from {{cvt|7|to|400|m}}.
Biology
References
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