The smoothskin scorpionfish (''Coccotropsis gymnoderma'') is a species of

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fish or actinopterygians, is a class of bony fish that comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. They are so called because of their lightly built fins made of webbings of sk ...

, a

waspfish Tetraroginae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes, commonly known as waspfishes or sailback scorpionfishes, belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the We ...

belonging to the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Tetraroginae Tetraroginae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes, commonly known as waspfishes or sailback scorpionfishes, belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the ...

of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Scorpaenidae The Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish) are a family (biology), family of mostly ocean, marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp ...

, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. It is the only species in the monotypic

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

''Coccotropsis''. This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the seas off South Africa.

Taxonomy

The smoothskin scorpionfish was first formally described as ''Tetraroge gymnoderma'' in 1906 by the Scottish-born South African zoologist

John Dow Fisher Gilchrist John Dow Fisher Gilchrist (1866–1926) was a Scottish ichthyologist, who established ichthyology as a scientific discipline in South Africa. He was instrumental in the development of marine biology in South Africa and of a scientifically based ...

with the type localities given as Cape St. Blaize, Baird Island Lighthouse, False Island, Rockland Point, Seal Island and Fish Hook Bay in South Africa. In 1927

Keppel Harcourt Barnard Keppel Harcourt Barnard (31 March 1887 – 22 September 1964) was a South African zoologist and museum director. He was the only son of Harcourt George Barnard, a solicitor from Lambeth, and Anne Elizabeth Porter of Royston. Life and career Ba ...

placed ''T. gymnoderma'' in the new monotypic genus ''Coccotropsis''. ''Coccotropsis'' has been placed in its own monotypic subfamily, Coccotropsinae, by some authorities but is included in the subfamily Tetraroginae within the Scorpaenidae in the 5th edition of ''

Fishes of the World ''Fishes of the World'' is a standard reference for the systematics of fishes. It was first written in 1976 by the American ichthyologist Joseph S. Nelson (1937–2011). Now in its fifth edition (2016), the work is a comprehensive overview of t ...

'' however other authorities place that subfamily within the stonefish family

Synanceiidae Synanceiinae is a subfamily of Venom, venomous ray-finned fishes, waspfishes, which is classification of life, classified as part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific ocean ...

, while other authorities classify this subfamily as a family in its own right. The genus name is a compound of '' Coccotropus'', a genus within the family Aploactinidae and ''opsis'', which means "appearance", so the name means that this taxon is similar to ''Coccotropus'' but differs, among other features, in having three anal-fin spines and four anal-fin rays. The specific name, ''gymnoderma'', means "naked skin" an allusion to this species' apparently scale-less, naked skin.

Description

The smoothskin scorpionfish is a small, well-camouflaged fish, it has between 14 and 16 spines and 5 or 6 soft rays in its

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates. Dorsal fins have evolved independently several times through convergent evolution adapting to marine environments, so the fins are not all homologous. They are found ...

and 3 spines and between 3 and 6 soft rays in its

anal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported o ...

. It has an orange body with a distinctive cream patch to the rear. The fish may reach 50 mm in total length. The head has a pleated, wrinkled appearance and the dorsal fin has spines. The head may occasionally be pinkish.Zsilavecz, G. 2005. ''Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay''

Distribution and habitat

The smoothskin scorpionfish is only found off the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Algoa Bay in 9–110 m. It is endemic to this region.Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C. (eds.) 2003. ''Smiths' Sea Fishes''

Ecology

This fish is common on reefs but is seldom spotted due to its cryptic colouring and sedentary habits. It is usually not solitary. In keeping with other members of the waspfish family, it is extremely venomous and contact should be avoided. Little is known about the life history or ecology of this scheme.

Gallery

Image:smoothskin_pinkscorpion.jpg, Smoothskin scorpionfish with pinkish head Image:Smoothskin_scorpioncloseup1.jpg, Closeup of head of smoothskin scorpionfish Image:Smoothskin_scorpioncloseup2.jpg, Closeup

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4349263 Tetraroginae Marine fish of South Africa Fish described in 1906