Neovespicula

The leaf goblinfish (''Neovespicula depressifrons'') is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a waspfish belonging to the subfamily Tetraroginae, which is classified as part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. This is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Neovespicula''. It is found in coastal habitats of the Indo-West Pacific region.

Taxonomy

The leaf goblinfish was first formally described in 1848 as ''Apistes depressifrons'' by the Scottish naval surgeon, Arctic explorer and naturalist John Richardson with its type locality given as the Sea of Japan. The genus ''Neovespicula'' was described in 2001 by the Russian zoologist Sergey Anatolyevich Mandritsa as a monotypic genus for the leaf goblinfish. This taxon 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 ''neo'' , which means “new” and ''Vespicula'', the genus this species had previously been placed in and which derives from ''Vespa'' which means “wasp”. The specific name combines ''depressus'' meaning “pressed down” and ''frons'', which means “brow” or “forehead”, an allusion to the low angle of the dorsal profile of the head of this species.

Morphology

The leaf goblinfish is a small species, reaching a maximum size of 10 cm. It is similar to the bullrout in shape and colouration - mottled brown with a distinctive light stripe running along the dorsal surface from the nose and along the back of the fish. It has two dorsal fins, the first being notably taller than the second.

Distribution

The leaf goblinfish has been reported from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Ecology

The leaf goblinfish, like other waspfishes, is a stealthy predator that feeds on various small fish and invertebrates. Also in common with other waspfish, it is equipped with venomous spines. ''N. depressifrons'' is a euryhaline species, so may be found in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater environments.

Commercial importance

The leaf goblinfish is of no commercial importance, but occasionally gets traded as an aquarium fish. They have the alternative names of freshwater waspfish or phantom goby in the aquarium trade.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2618731

Tetraroginae
Fish of Indonesia
Fish of the Philippines
Taxa named by John Richardson (naturalist)
Fish described in 1848