Pteroidichthys acutus Motomura & Kanade, 2015
Longsnout weedy scorpionfish
photo by Motomura, H.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  4.08 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 73 - 400 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: from the Philippines, Vanuatu, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5. This species is distinguished by the following characters: A III.5; rigid dorsal-fin spines; relatively long snout with length 18.0-21.2% (mean 19.6%) of SL, and is longer than postorbital length; posterior margin of maxilla just reaching to or short of vertical through the anterior margin of pupil; the distance between tips of lateral lacrimal and first suborbital spines is longer than that between tips of first and second suborbital spines; presence of supplemental preopercular spine; tentacles on supraocular and posterior lacrimal spines are poorly developed, lengths are less than orbit diameter; with few tentacles on trunk and fins; lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines are well developed, with pointed tips; membranes between last spine and fourth soft ray of dorsal fin with a large black blotch (Ref. 106976).
Biology:  Most probably found on sandy bottoms (Ref. 106976).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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