SCORPAENIDAE


Apistus carinatus, 8.2 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)



Apistus carinatus, 8.4 cm SL
(from Mie Pref., Japan; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Apistus carinatus
(Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Ocellated Waspfish

D XIV-XV, 8-10; A III, 7-8; P1 11-12; P2 I, 5.

Body moderately elongate, compressed. Lateral surface of head densely covered with numerous denticulations. Interorbital space 10.0-16.6 in head length. Ventralmost pectoralfin ray separate from rest of fin. Color: body brownish dorsally, whitish ventrally. Spinous portion of dorsal fin with a large black blotch posteriorly; soft-rayed portion grayish, reticulated, with white margin. Inside and outside of pectoral fin yellowish and blackish respectively. Pelvic fin whitish to grayish. Anal fin grayish, with black band submarginally, white band marginally. Color pattern of caudal fin similar to that of soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin. Size: maximum length 12.5 cm SL. Distribution: widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from South Africa to Japan and Australia. Remarks: taken over fine sandy bottom at depths of less than 60 m.