Rhinopias aphanes Eschmeyer, 1973
Lacy scorpionfish
Rhinopias aphanes
photo by Adams, M.J.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  25 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 30 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: only in the Coral Sea and adjacent waters; collected from Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and northeastern Australia. Reports from Japan and Penghu Archipelago (Ref. 55073) are in error.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Description: Characterized by having complex maze-like color pattern with variable amounts of black, yellow and green; firm dorsal spines with sharp tips; strongly oblique and upturned mouth; concave snout; head, body and fins with numerous slender branched tentacles and cirri; depth of body 2.1-2.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  A rare species that inhabits coral slopes (Ref. 9710), or soft bottom habitat (Ref. 48635). Benthic (Ref. 75154). Solitary and often with ctenoids; pectoral and pelvic fins used for walking on bottom (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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