© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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SCORPAENIDAE and NEOSEBASTIDAE: SCORPION FISHES and GURNARD PERCHES

© Bernard Yau

The scorpionfishes and gurnard perches are found in tropical and temperate marine environments around the world (Froese and Pauly, 2008). The number of genera and species, as well as the designation at family level, change regularly as new species are discovered, and/or as the taxonomy of groups is reworked. Australian Museum (2006a) reported 110 species of scorpionfishes and gurnard perches from Australian waters, in the families Apistidae, Neosebastidae, Scorpaenidae, Sebastidae, Setarchidae, Syanceiidae and Tetrarogidae.  A number of new species have been described from Australian waters in recent years (e.g. Motomura, 2003; Motomura et al., 2005, 2006). The small Sydney Scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis insperatus (Motomura, 2004) is the only known temperate species of a tropical genus.
Scorpaenid fishes and Gurnard Perches have a compressed body, usually with ridges and spines on the head, and the dorsal fin is often notched. Scales, when present, are usually ctenoid. Some species do not have a swim bladder. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines of some species have venom glands (Nelson, 1994). Other features include a relatively large bony plated head; large eyes; a narrow body with numerous spines; rough scales; sharp, poisonous spines, and hard, sharp bony plates around the gill covers (DPIWE Tasmania, 2004i).
Fertilization is mostly internal, and in some species, the eggs are laid in a gelatinous balloon. The larvae are planktonic. Most scorpaenids live on or near the bottom, and feed on crustaceans or fishes. Gurnard perches eat fish, squid, small crustaceans and marine worms (DPIWE Tasmania, 2004i).The family contains the world's most venomous fishes, many of them brightly coloured (Nelson, 1994, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009).
Some of the common scorpion fishes and gurnard perches found in southern Australia include the following:
Neosebastes bougainvillii (Gulf Gurnard Perch): a reef-dwelling species found in S.A. and W.A.. The Gulf Gurnard Perch is discussed in a synopsis below, due to its limited geographic range, its site-associated benthic nature, its capture in recreational and commercial bycatch fisheries.
Neosebastes pandus (Bighead Gurnard Perch / Gurnard Perch): A species found along the central and southern W.A. coast, and across South Australia (Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; OZCAM database records, 2007), possibly extending into Victoria. Although Gurnard Perch has a broad depth range (shallow subtidal to at least 200m deep), it is included in a synopsis below because it a site-associated benthic species, with a relatively limited geographic range (2 southern Australian States); it is a bycatch of commercial fisheries, and also taken by recreational fishers.
Neosebastes nigropunctatus (Black-spotted Gurnard Perch): This species ranges from S.A. through to the central coast of W.A. (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994). Although it has a broad depth range (to at least 200m deep), it is included in a synopsis below due to its capture in fisheries, and the likelihood that trawling is a threatening process for N. nigropunctatus populations.
Neosebastes scorpaenoides (Ruddy Gurnard Perch / Common Gurnard Perch): A species found on the continental shelf and upper slope in south-eastern and southern Australia. The species, which is frequently taken as bycatch by commercial trawlers in southern Australia, and also by recreational fishers, is discussed in a synopsis below.
Scorpaena papillosa (Southern Rock Cod / Red Rock Cod / Common Red Gurnard / Southern Red Scorpionfish): A species that occurs in New Zealand, southern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Despite its broad depth range, the species is included in a synopsis below because South Australia is at the edge of the geographic range, and the species is frequently taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries in southern Australia.
Scorpaena sumptuosa (Western Red Scorpionfish): A species that occurs on shallow reefs in southern W.A., possibly extending to the Great Australian Bight. The commonly published range is Point Quobba through to Esperance (Edgar, 2000). The species is commonly seen by divers in W.A., on moderately exposed coastal reefs (Edgar, 2000). The Western Red Scorpionfish is occasionally taken by anglers, but usually released (e.g. Sumner and Williamson, 1999). Despite its limited geographic range, the species is not discussed in detail in this report, because it is not known to occur in South Australia.
 Neosebastes thetidis (Thetis Fish): Although the Thetis Fish has a broad geographic distribution (N.S.W. though to W.A.) and depth range (~ 5m and 240m depth), it is included in a synopsis below due to its common capture in fisheries, and the likelihood that trawl capture is a threatening process for Thetis Fish populations.
Maxillicosta scabriceps (Little Scorpion Fish): a species found on sand near reefs in shallow coastal waters. The Little Scorpion Fish ranges from W.A. through to Victoria and northern Tasmania (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000; M. Gomon, Museum of Victoria, pers comm. to R. Foster, S.A. Museum, 2006). The species is discussed below due to its limited depth distribution on the upper continental shelf, and its capture in trawl fisheries.
 Maxillicosta whitleyi (Whitley’s Scorpion Fish): a small species (less than 10cm), with a depth range from the shallow subtidal down to approximately 140m. The species is found in eastern Australia. Whitley’s Scorpionfish was listed as one of the bycatch species in the N.S.W. Ocean Trawl Fishery that has a “high” fishery impact profile (NSW Department of Primary Industries, 2004).

Associated taxa

Gulf Gurnard Perch / Gulf Gurnard Scorpionfish / Gulf Perch	Neosebastes bougainvillii (Cuvier, 1829) (= N. bougainvilli)
Black-spotted Gurnard Perch / Blackspotted Gurnard Perch	Neosebastes nigropunctatus McCulloch, 1915
Bighead Gurnard Perch / Gurnard Perch	Neosebastes pandus (Richardson, 1842)
Common Gurnard Perch / Ruddy Gurnard Perch	Neosebastes scorpaenoides Guichenot, 1867
Thetis Fish	Neosebastes thetidis (Waite, 1899)
Little Gurnard Perch / Little Scorpionfish / Little Scorpion Fish	Maxillicosta scabriceps Whitley, 1935
Southern Gurnard Perch	Maxillicosta meridianus Motomura, Last & Gomon, 2006
Southern Red Scorpionfish / Southern Rock Cod / Red Rock Cod / Common Red Gurnard / Southern Red Scorpion Cod / Common Red Rock Cod	Scorpaena papillosa (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (= Scorpaena papillosus)