Paracentropogon longispinis

Paracentropogon longispinis, common name wispy waspfish or sailfin washfish, is a small fish species that belongs to the scorpionfishes family (Scorpaenidae). It is found in the central Indo-West Pacific.

Wispy waspfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Family:
Scorpaenidae
Genus:
Paracentropogon
Species:
P. longispinis
Binomial name
Paracentropogon longispinis
(G. Cuvier, 1829)[1]
Synonyms[1]

Apistus longispinis G. Cuvier, 1829
Centropogon indicus F. Day, 1875

Physical characteristics

The size of this fish is up to 13 cm (5.1 in). Its body is compressed laterally and is endowed with a dorsal fin starting from the top of the head until joining practically the superior base of the caudal fin. When the dorsal fin is spread, it looks like a toothed crest. The 12 to 15 spines of the dorsal fin are venomous, and it has seven or eight soft rays. It remains in the substratum and moves using its pectoral fins. Its body color is mainly red-brown with one or two bright white spots above the lateral line and it "wears" a bright white mask starting from the top of its head to the inferior lip. Individuals from Thailand have large dark blotches over the body, while those from Indonesia and Australia are usually more mottled. It is able to change its color from lighter to darker to a certain extent.[2] In appearance, it is somewhat similar to the cockatoo waspfish, Ablabys taenianotus.

Distribution

P. longispinis is found in the central Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from southern India, Thailand, and Malaysia through Indonesia to western, northern, and eastern Australia.[2]

Habitat, behavior, and diet

It is found at depths from 2 to 60 ft on sandy, silty, muddy, or rubble bottoms, and also in fields of Zosteraceae. It is a nocturnal benthic species, an ambush predator, feeding by hunting from a hide by mimicking a crumpled, dead leaf or a drifting piece of seaweed. It feeds on shrimps and other tiny crustaceans which it sucks into its mouth.[3]

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References
  1. Bailly, Nicolas (2013). "Paracentropogon longispinis (Cuvier, 1829)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  2. "Paracentropogon longispinis (Cuvier, 1829): Wispy waspfish". FishBase. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  3. Ewald Lieske & Robert Myers. Coral Reef Fishes. Princeton University Press,1998. ISBN 978-0691004815

Further reading
  • Andrea & Antonnella Ferrrari. Macrolife. Nautilus Publishing, 2003. ISBN 983-2731-00-3
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