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

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

, a waspfish belonging to the subfamily

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 We ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

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

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

''Coccotropsis''. This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found 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 found else ...

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 M.A. ( Cantab.), a solicitor from Lambeth, and Anne Elizabeth Porter of Royston. Li ...

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'' however other authorities place that subfamily within the stonefish family Synanceiidae, 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 Little velvetfishes or simply velvetfishes are a family, the Aploactinidae, of marine ray-finned fishes classified within the order Scorpaeniformes. They are small fish that have skin with a velvet texture. They live on the sea bottom close to t ...

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 located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through c ...

and 3 spines and between 3 and 6 soft rays in its anal fin. 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