Blackfin stonefish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Subfamily: Synanceiinae
Tribe: Synanceiini
Genus: Pseudosynanceia
F. Day, 1875
Species:
P. melanostigma
Binomial name
Pseudosynanceia melanostigma
F. Day, 1875

The blackfin stonefish (Pseudosynanceia melanostigma) is a species of venomous ray-finned fish, a stonefish be longing to the subfamily Synanceiinae of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. It is the only species in the monotypic genus. It is native to the western Indian Ocean where it occurs in areas with muddy bottoms. This species grows to a total length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in).

Taxonomy

The blackfin stonefish was first formally described in 1875 by the British zoologist Francis Day with the type locality given as Kurachi in Sind, modern Karachi in Pakistan.[2] At the same time Day described a new monotypic genus, Pseudosynanceia, for this new species.[3] The genus Pseudosynanceia is classified within the tribe Synanceiini which is one of three tribes in the subfamily Synanceeinae within the family Scorpaenidae.[4] However, other authorities regard Synanceiidae as a valid family and the Synanceiini as the subfamily Synanceiinae.[3] The genus name combines pseudo meaning “false” with Synanceia, this species being considered by Day to be similar to Leptosynanceia, except for its vomerine teeth. The specific name melanostigma means “black-spotted”, presumed to be an allusion to the black spots on the body and fins.[5]

Description

The blackfin stonefish has 15 to 17 spines and 4 to 6 soft rays in its dorsal fin, typical counts being 16 spines and 4 soft rays. There are 3 spines and 7 or 8 soft spines in the anal fin, 14-15 fin rays in the pectoral fin and a single spine and 5 soft rays in the pelvic fins. All the fin rays are simple and are not branched. The head is depressed with an upwards pointing mouth and upward pointing eyes on the head’s dorsal surface. There are no deep pis on the head. The body is greyish brown mottled with pale. The dorsal fin is dark while the caudal fin is pale with a black submarginal band. The anal, pelvic and pectoral fins have yellow bases and wide black distal bands.[6] This species reaches a maximum total length of 13 cm (5.1 in).[7]

Distribution and habitat

The blackfin stonefish is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean but it’s actual distribution is not well known. It is found in the Persian Gulf, Pakistan and western India.[1] It is a benthic fish found on muddy beds in marine and estuarine environments.[7]

Venom

The blackfin stonefish has venom glands in its fin spines and the venom can cause severe pain and even be fatal to envenomated people.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Motomura, H.; Matsuura, K. & Khan, M. (2018). "Pseudosynanceia melanostigma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T46102071A46665199. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T46102071A46665199.en. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pseudosynanceia". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Synanceiinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ↑ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 468–475. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (10 March 2022). "Order Perciformes (Part 10): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Families Apistidae, Tetrarogidae, Synanceiidae, Aploacrinidae, Perryenidae, Eschmeyeridae, Pataceidae, Gnathanacanthidae, Congiopodidae and Zanclorhynchidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Eschmeyer, W. N. and K. V. Rama-Rao (1973). "Two new stonefishes (Pisces, Scorpaenidae) from the Indo-West Pacific, with a synopsis of the subfamily Synanceiinae". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Series 4. 39 (18): 337–382.
  7. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Pseudosynanceia melanostigma" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
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