A new species of the scorpionfish genus Scorpaena (Scorpaenidae) from Izu Peninsula, Pacific coast of Japan

A new species of scorpionfish, Scorpaena brevispina, is described on the basis of a single specimen collected from off the east coast of Izu Peninsula, Pacific coast of Japan, at a depth of 45 m. Scorpaena brevispina is distinguished from other Indo-Pacific species of Scorpaena by the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 17; longitudinal scale rows 44; scales below lateral line 13; gill rakers 17; anterior surface of preocular spine with three vertical or slightly oblique ridges; lateral surface of maxilla without a distinct longitudinal ridge; lateral lacrimal spine present; extremely deep occipital pit; occipital pit rectangular in dorsal view, length distinctly less than width (length 53.3% of width); numerous small papillae on surface of occipital pit; pectoral fin relatively long (33.3% of standard length, L-S), posterior tip extending beyond verticals through last dorsal-fin spine base and second anal-fin spine base; relatively short third to fifth dorsal-fin spines (third spine length 14.6% of L-S, fourth spine 15.5%, and fifth spine 15.8%, respectively).