identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
039A87C4FFC63D4ED3CCA5E1FB4AFA6A.text	039A87C4FFC63D4ED3CCA5E1FB4AFA6A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pterois volitans	<div><p>Pterois volitans: general morphology</p><p>We measured nine P. volitans larvae from 2.5–12.9 mm (Fig. 2a–g) and examined others as supplemental material. Smallest preflexion larva characterized by precocious pectoral fins, deep base, elongate rays. Gut with single loop or “twist” (Fig. 2a), and terminates slightly beyond mid-body; hindgut becomes rugose in early postflexion larvae. Flexion larvae with tips of longest developing pectoral rays to or beyond posterior margin of dorsal-fin base; by early postflexion, these rays extend to about terminal margin of caudal peduncle (CP) or beyond, if unbroken. Flexion larvae with pronounced “hump” in snout dorsal profile created by elevation of rostral cartilage (i.e., ascending process of premaxilla). Head deep, angle of lower jaw pronounced; snout typically 10–15% shorter than OD; CP shortens, deepens as notochord flexes. Upper jaw terminates near mid-orbit; maxilla deepens near terminal margin, its maximum depth&gt;55% OD. CP depth nearly equal to its length in postflexion and transforming larvae (Table 2). Seven BR.</p><p>Pigmentation</p><p>Pigmentation sparse in all larvae examined (Fig. 2a–e). Internally, head with melanophore between lobes of midbrain in smallest larva, and on dorsoposterior surface of hindbrain and brainstem by 3.0 mm. Flexion larvae add pigment to ventrolateral surface of each lobe of hindbrain (otic region), which together with midbrain pigment forms “triangular” pattern when viewed downward from top of head (Kitchens et al. 2017: fig. 3). Early postflexion larvae (~5.0 mm) with series of subsurface melanophores across dorsoposterior margin of midbrain, and dorsal and lateral surfaces of hindbrain and brainstem; this pigment gradually obscured by cranial ossification and thickening musculature in early transformers (~10.0 mm). Behind head, pigment on dorsoposterior margin of hindgut near anus in smallest larva (Fig. 2a) becomes more conspicuous in flexion larvae. Dorsal surface of visceral mass along body wall lightly pigmented at all sizes; dorsal surface of gas bladder unpigmented until early postflexion. All internal pigment gradually obscured by thickening abdominal musculature in early transformers.</p><p>Externally, pigment concentrated along body midlines. Pigmentation in preflexion larvae varies from opposing dorsal and ventral blotches to narrow longitudinal swath located along posterior third of body margins; lateral midline with one to three “dash-like” melanophores (Fig. 2a). Flexion larvae with pigment typically restricted to narrow longitudinal swath about 4–5 epimeres wide near posterior margin of developing dorsal-fin base; another swath about 2–3 hypomeres wide near posterior margin of developing anal-fin base; and mid-lateral series of 3–5 “dash-like” pigments along CP. One of two flexion larvae with small pair of melanophores embedded in ventral midline of CP anterior to developing hypural elements; a single melanophore embedded between upper and lower hypural plates, and pigment scattered over lower plate (Kitchens et al. 2017: fig. 3); pigment lacking at these locations in postflexion larvae. Swath of pigment along body margin and posterior half of soft dorsal-fin base, and above posterior third of anal-fin base, extends onto adjacent 1–2 myomeres of CP in postflexion larvae. By 6.0 mm, series of 3–4 melanophores added near mid-base of developing spinous dorsal fin, these pigments on pterygiophores 9 through 11 in 8.5 mm larva (Fig. 2c). Pigmentation unchanged to slightly reduced along dorsal, lateral, and ventral body thereafter until early transformation. During that period, pigment typically restricted to narrow “dash-like” series of melanophores below soft dorsal-fin base and along margin of adjacent epimeres, 0–3 melanophores along lateral midline of CP, and along last 3–4 pterygiophores of anal-fin base. Early transformers add pair of enlarged melanophores to dorsal surface of head between parietal spines (Fig. 2f); single melanophore to small cluster along dorsal rim of premaxilla; and single to short series of melanophores along dorsal midline near mid-CP. Pigment along anal-fin base typically reduced to one or two melanophores, often large, on lateral surface of penultimate and antepenultimate pterygiophores. Largest transformer (12.9 mm) adds enlarged melanophore or blotch to surface of head (midbrain region), and small cluster to snout between anteroventral margin of orbit and upper lip.</p><p>1 Upper four spines along preopercle subequal</p><p>2 Longest PPO spine is uppermost (PPO-1)</p><p>3 Only one larva with first &amp; second dorsal spines developed &amp; intact</p><p>4 Only one postflexion &amp; one transforming larva with both dorsal spines intact</p><p>5 Only two larvae with first &amp; second anal spines developed &amp; intact</p><p>Fin development and pigmentation</p><p>Pectoral fins precocious, base deep, typically 53–56% BDc (Table 2); all rays present in early postflexion larvae (Table 3). Pigment lightly scattered over mid- to outer-margin of blade and developing rays in flexion larvae, and beginning to consolidate into irregularly shaped patches in postflexion larvae. By 7.0–8.0 mm, scattered pigment at several locations along inner third to mid-shaft of fins, on webbing between rays, on inner third of shaft only of rays 4–6, and near mid-shaft of rays 13–14; early transformers add pigment along outer third of shaft of most rays. Tips of longest unbroken rays extend to or slightly beyond terminal margin of CP through late postflexion; pectoral fins become relatively shorter during transformation.</p><p>Early postflexion larvae with three to four rays in pelvic fin, and all elements by 7.0 mm (Table 3). By 8.5 mm, pigment on outer third of webbing between pelvic spine and outermost ray (Fig. 2d); tips of middle three rays extend to or slightly beyond first pterygiophore of anal-fin base. By 11.0 mm, longest pelvic rays extend to or beyond mid-anal-fin base, with part of innermost ray attached by short membrane to abdominal wall; tip of pelvic spine when pressed against body extends to or slightly beyond first pterygiophore of anal-fin base.</p><p>Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins thickening outward from mid-base in flexion larvae. Early postflexion larvae with all dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores, and most elements developing; full complement of elements present by 8.0 mm (Table 3). First and second spines of anal fin formed by 7.0 mm; tips of last 3–4 soft dorsal rays, last two rays of anal fin now extend to or slightly beyond terminal margin of hypural plate. Gap between first and second dorsal spines narrower than between subsequent spines, length of first spine about one-half that of second spine; length of first anal spine &lt;65% that of second (Table 2). Pterygiophore of first dorsal spine typically inserted over operculum. If 13 dorsal spines, first anal spine inserted below 12 th to 13 th spine; if 12 spines, first anal spine inserted below 12 th spine to first ray of soft dorsal fin. First “true” ray of anal fin (fourth element) inserted below first to second ray of soft dorsal fin; terminal pterygiophore of anal fin inserted below penultimate to antepenultimate pterygiophore of soft dorsal fin. Caudal fin with 7+7 primary rays by 8.0 mm; early transformers with 22 total caudal-fin elements (Table 3).</p><p>1 Aberrant larva lacking anterior three dorsal spines &amp; associated structures</p><p>Largest transformer with aberrant number of dorsal-fin elements (21 total, typical count 23–24; Table 3), lacks first three pterygiophores and associated structures, fourth pterygiophore underdeveloped. Origin of spinous dorsal fin displaced posteriorly, anteriormost pterygiophore (fourth) located over dorsal splay of sixth epimere (Fig. 2g); third element of anal fin untransformed; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins unpigmented in largest transformer.</p><p>Cephalic and opercular spination; supraocular and nasal cirri; and sensory pore development</p><p>Number, relative length, and orientation of PPO spines change as larvae develop. Smallest larva with small PPO-2 along upper margin, and PPO-3 along lower margin. Flexion larvae add two small spines along anterior shelf of preopercle (APO), APO-2 along upper margin behind lower rim of orbit, and APO-4 along lower margin near angle of lower jaw (Fig. 3a). Early postflexion larvae add small APO-1 and PPO-1 along upper margin, and add APO-3 and PPO-4 along lower margin by 7.0 mm. APO spines 1 through 3 generally overlay their PPO counterparts, with APO-4 inserted between PPO-3 and -4, but closer to PPO-4. PPO-1 directed toward upper margin of opercle, PPO-2 nearly horizontal, PPO-3 directed toward pelvic-fin base, PPO-4 directed ventrally (Fig. 3b). PPO-2 and -3 similar in length, longer than -1 and -4; mean length of PPO-2 and -3 about 50% OD in flexion and early postflexion larvae (Table 2). PPO-4, shortest, length less than one-half that of PPO-2 and -3; all PPO’s regress in length relative to OD during transformation. By 8.5 mm, cephalosensory canal along outer margin of PPO with three pores: uppermost near PPO-1, middle pore between -1 and -2, lowermost pore between -2 and -3 (Fig. 3c). By 11.0 mm, sensory canal added along ventral margin of infraorbital ridge with five pores. Largest transformer with lateral margins of PPO-1 through -3 weakly serrate; opercle, interopercle, and subopercle lack spines at sizes examined.</p><p>Most cranial ridges and spines indistinct in preflexion larvae, and weakly developed in flexion and early postflexion larvae. Pair of small dorsoposteriorly directed parietal spines present in late preflexion larvae; flexion larvae with pterotic, lower posttemporal, supraocular, and postocular ridges developing; pterotic ridge with short medial spine. Height of pterotic ridge increases toward posterior margin, short spine on terminal margin in early postflexion larvae; terminal margin of lower posttemporal ridge with short spine by 7.0 mm. Pterotic ridge two times longer, higher than lower posttemporal ridge at 7.0 mm, pterotic ridge nearly three times longer by 8.5 mm. Largest transformer, however, with lower posttemporal ridge longer, and two times higher than pterotic ridge. Transformers also add vertical pair of short, parallel, irregularly sculpted sphenotic ridges behind orbit.</p><p>Nuchal spines short, acute, conjoined to outer margin of parietal base in flexion larvae, parietals longer than nuchals, both elevated and directed upward about 30° above longitudinal axis of head. Parietal spines over two times longer than nuchals by 8.0 mm (Fig. 3 a-c), about three times longer by 10.0 mm; both spines gradually regress during transformation. By 8.5 mm, larvae with anterior margin of parietal spines weakly dentate; posterior margin of parietals, and anterior and posterior margins of nuchals smooth in all examined.</p><p>Supraocular and postocular ridges continuous in early postflexion larvae, supraocular ridge low, postocular ridge rises abruptly along anterior margin to acute peak near mid-orbit, ridge height decreases thereafter along dorsoposterior margin of orbit. Supraocular and postocular ridges project outward above orbits like “blinders,” postocular more so than supraocular ridge. By 8.5 mm, supraocular ridge broadly rounded, small spine near terminal margin, ridge height about one-half that of postocular. Early transformers with anterior margin of postocular ridge weakly dentate, spine midway along ridge.</p><p>Lateral ridge along first infraorbital (IO 1) low, poorly developed; small spine on anterodorsal (upper, U) margin (IO 1-U1) by 7.0 mm, and on anteroventral (lower, L) margin (IO 1-L1) by 8.0 mm (Fig. 3b–c). Lateral ridge crosses onto second infraorbital (IO 2) by 8.5 mm, spine on its posteroventral margin (IO 2-L1) by 10.0 mm; lateral ridge crosses third infraorbital (IO 3) in early transformers; and terminates on fourth infraorbital (IO 4) below posterior margin of orbit, small spine on its terminal margin by 11.0 mm. Transformers add weak outer interorbital and upper posttemporal ridges. Outer interorbital ridge connects to coronal base, bifurcates terminally into low coronal (inner) and tympanic (outer) ridges; both ridges lack spines and serrations in all examined. Transformers also add short, unpigmented supraocular cirrus, and small, unpigmented nasal cirrus along dorsal rim of lower nostril by 11.0 mm. Largest transformer with small, blunt spine on terminal margin of upper posttemporal ridge.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87C4FFC63D4ED3CCA5E1FB4AFA6A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Ditty, James G.;Malca, Estrella;Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes	Ditty, James G., Malca, Estrella, Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes (2024): The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446 (1): 1-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1
039A87C4FFCA3D4AD3CCA32CFEB3FA6A.text	039A87C4FFCA3D4AD3CCA32CFEB3FA6A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Dendrochirus barberi (Steindachner 1900)	<div><p>Dendrochirus barberi:</p><p>general morphology</p><p>We measured 12 postflexion and transforming larvae from 8.6–14.0 mm (Fig. 4a–e). Mean HL 32% SL; snout length typically 65–75% OD; mean BDc 34% SL; body depth at CP 51% BDc; CP about 15% deeper than long (Table 2). Rays of pectoral fin elongate, tips of longest extend to or slightly beyond last pterygiophore of dorsal-fin base in smallest larva; mean depth of pectoral-fin base 49% BDc (Table 2). All larvae with pronounced “hump” in dorsal profile of snout due to elevated rostral cartilage; terminal margin of maxilla extends to about mid-orbit. PPO spines about evenly spaced along shelf margin, upper 3–4 subequal, lowermost shortest (Fig. 4a). Smallest larva with oblong loop in fore- and mid-gut; hindgut slender, terminates beyond mid-body; gut with rugose folds in early transformers (~9.0 mm). Gas bladder unpigmented, obscured by abdominal musculature in transformers. Seven BR.</p><p>Pigmentation</p><p>Head and visceral mass unpigmented or nearly so, body sparsely pigmented until early transformation (Fig. 4b). Smallest postflexion larva (8.6 mm) with pigment on dorsolateral surface of hindgut, this pigment obscured by thickening abdominal musculature in largest transformer (Fig. 4 c-e). Externally, early transformers with small pigment on pterygiophore of 10 th dorsal spine, and third and last two pterygiophores of soft dorsal-fin base; expanded melanophore on third, fourth, and last two pterygiophores of anal-fin base; and small ventral blotch near mid-CP (Fig. 4c). Laterally, series of three close-set “dash-like” melanophores along body midline on penultimate and antepenultimate myomeres of CP, which by 11.0 mm, coalesce into narrow, elongate streak. Transformers also add large circular melanophore to dorsal surface of head (midbrain region), small cluster to anterodorsal margin of upper lip, and five partial saddles along dorsal margin of body: anterior saddle near origin of spinous dorsal fin, posterior saddle near terminal margin of soft dorsal-fin base (Fig. 4 c-e). By 11.0 mm, CP with dorsal series of three melanophores perpendicular to longitudinal axis of body near mid-peduncle, one medial and one on each side of body midline; another pigment embedded in CP midline near anteriormost developed upper secondary element. By 12.0 mm, two stripes present across head: anterior stripe between orbital margins, posterior stripe between bases of parietal spines. Small dorsal blotch also added near mid-CP, its position about one myomere caudad of opposing blotch on ventral margin. Largest transformer (14.0 mm) adds pigment on snout near upper lip, dorsal margin of lower lip near symphysial knob, angle of lower jaw, near anteroventral and ventral margins of orbit, to cheek near lower margin of APO, and diagonal streak between posterior margin of orbit and APO (Fig. 4e). Ventrolateral margin of lower lip lightly mottled near mid-lip.</p><p>Fin development and pigmentation</p><p>Smallest larva with full complement of pterygiophores in dorsal- and anal-fins; caudal fin with 5+5 weakly segmented, and 2+2 unsegmented rays (Table 3). Dorsal and anal spines feeble, first two dorsal spines of similar length, last three elements of spinous dorsal fin ray-like. Pterygiophore of first dorsal spine inserted above lower posttemporal ridge; gap between first and second dorsal spine narrower than between subsequent spines. Tips of dorsal- and anal-fin rays from behind about mid-base extend to terminal margin of hypural plate. Transformers with all dorsal spines and first two anal spines well developed, and a full complement of 7+7 primary caudal rays (inner 6+6 segmented), plus 3+3 secondary elements (20 total as in adults). Second dorsal spine about 25% longer than first; second anal spine nearly two times longer than first; third element of anal fin ray-like, untransformed in largest larva. Pterygiophore of first anal spine inserted below 12 th to 13 th dorsal spine; if 12 spines, inserted below 12 th dorsal spine to first ray. Pterygiophore of first “true” ray of anal fin inserted below first to second ray of soft dorsal fin, terminal pterygiophore of anal-fin base inserted below penultimate to antepenultimate pterygiophores of soft dorsal fin. Largest transformer adds pigment along outer third of shaft of first and second dorsal rays, and shaft and on membrane between fourth through sixth rays of anal fin. Last ray of dorsal fin attached by short membrane to body wall, last anal ray free; caudal fin unpigmented in largest transformer.</p><p>Smallest larva with all pectoral- and pelvic-fin elements well formed. Although upper four rays of pectoral fin broken off near mid-shaft, diffuse blotch of pigment on inner third of shaft and membrane between rays 5–6, 10–11, and along outer margin of shaft and membrane between rays 7–8. Early transformers with pigment along shaft and membrane of rays 2–3, near outer third of shaft of rays 9–11, and near outer margin of rays 12–15 (Fig. 4c). Largest transformer with pigment consolidating into series of oblong blotches in two uneven rows near mid-fin and outer margin (Fig. 4e); lower four rays of pectoral fin slightly thickened; longest rays extend to or slightly beyond last pterygiophore of dorsal-fin base.</p><p>Tips of longest rays of pelvic fin extend to or slightly beyond mid-anal-fin base, innermost ray joined to abdomen by short membrane in smallest larva. Pigment on inner third of membrane that connects innermost ray to abdominal wall, this pigment more pronounced in transformers. By 11.0 mm, pigment present near mid- and outer-margin of shaft of innermost ray, and along outer 25% of shaft and on membrane between rays 3–4; pelvic spine extends &lt;70% of distance to origin of anal-fin base when pressed against body. Late transformers with pigment on webbing between pelvic spine and outermost ray.</p><p>Cephalic and opercular spination; supraocular and nasal cirri; and sensory pore development</p><p>Smallest larva with five PPO and three APO spines, PPO’s subequal, each &lt;35% OD (Fig. 4a). PPO-1 and -2 along upper margin: PPO-1 about mid-orbit, directed dorsoposteriorly; PPO-2 directed posteriorly. PPO-3 through -5 along lower margin: PPO-3 below shelf angle nearly aligned with dorsal margin of maxilla; PPO-4 near lower margin of pectoral-fin base directed posteroventrally; PPO-5 near angle of lower jaw, directed ventrally. APO-1 and -2 along upper margin of shelf, nearly overlay PPO counterparts; APO-3 along lower margin, closer to PPO-4 than -3. Largest transformer with APO-1 closer to PPO-2, and APO-2 between PPO-3 and -4; transformers lack supplemental spine at base of PPO-1 found in juveniles and adults.</p><p>Most cranial ridges and spines weakly developed until early transformation.Smallest larva with outer interorbital, supraocular, postocular, pterotic, lower posttemporal, infraorbital, parietal, and nuchal ridges; and parietal and nuchal spines (Fig. 4a). Parietal ridges weakly dentate, terminate at conjoined base of parietal and nuchal spines. Nuchal spines external to parietals, subequal in length, and lie flatter against cranium (i.e., ≤15° above longitudinal axis of head) than in P. volitans . Anterior margin of parietals weakly serrate; posterior margin smooth; nuchal margins smooth at all sizes examined. Low, outer interorbital ridges originate above mid-orbit, diverge outward toward posterolateral margin of cranium, connect to coronal base, then bifurcate into low coronal and tympanic ridges. By 11.5 mm, transformers with short, flimsy spine on terminal margin of each ridge lies nearly flat against cranium, best observed by lifting with probe.</p><p>Supra- and postocular ridges project outward over eyes like “blinders,” each ridge with dorsoposteriorly directed spine in smallest larva. Supraocular ridge rises to acute peak along anterodorsal margin of orbit, descends thereafter to become postocular ridge; postocular ridge rises to acute peak near mid-orbit, descends along posterior margin of orbit; height of both ridges gradually reduced during transformation to become low continuous ridge with scalloped outer margin in largest transformer. Smallest larva with pterotic and lower posttemporal ridges swollen, laterally projecting, increase in height in posterior direction, short terminal spine on each (Fig. 4a). Height of lower posttemporal ridge nearly twice that of pterotic ridge in early transformers; largest transformer with posterior half of pterotic ridge weakly dentate. Transformers add supracleithral ridge by 10.0 mm. Below orbit, smallest larva with low IO ridge, small spine on IO 1-U1, IO 1-L1, and ventrally near terminal margin of IO 4; IO 1-L1 overlaps dorsal margin of upper lip in transformers. By 11.0 mm, two small spines added on lateral margin of ridge along IO 3, posterior spine slightly larger than anterior spine.</p><p>Smallest larva with cephalosensory canal along IO 1 and outer margin of PPO. Canal along PPO with single pore above PPO-1, between PPO-2 and -3, and between -3 and -4 (Fig. 4a). Transformers add sensory canal along postocular, pterotic, and lower posttemporal ridges; along lower margin of operculum; and on snout and frontal region of head above nares. By 11.0 mm, transformers with V-shaped tooth patch on vomer, and short cirrus on dorsal rim of anterior nostril, and above eye (i.e., nasal and supraocular cirri; Fig. 4c). Largest transformer with supraocular cirrus&gt;50% OD, well pigmented; tip of unpigmented nasal cirrus extends to about mid-orbit if pressed against forehead. Transformers lack nasal, opercle, interopercle, and subopercle spines; and sphenotic and medial interorbital ridges.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87C4FFCA3D4AD3CCA32CFEB3FA6A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Ditty, James G.;Malca, Estrella;Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes	Ditty, James G., Malca, Estrella, Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes (2024): The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446 (1): 1-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1
039A87C4FFCE3D57D3CCA32DFF00FB42.text	039A87C4FFCE3D57D3CCA32DFF00FB42.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Dendrochirus hemprichi	<div><p>Dendrochirus hemprichi:</p><p>general morphology</p><p>We examined images of two transforming larvae of D. hemprichi, one from Baldwin (2013: 540, fig. 40E) labeled D. brachypterus, and an 11.0 mm larva from the Red Sea (Fig. 5a–b). These larvae were not available for examination and measurement; therefore, the following description of general morphology applies to the 21.0 mm juvenile only (Fig. 5c). Head length 38% SL; OD about 1.5 times wider than snout. PPO-1 length 25% OD (Table 2), and two times longer than PPO-2 through -5. Upper jaw terminates slightly beyond mid-orbit; maxilla swollen near its posterior margin. Preanal length 67% SL; BDc 43% SL; CP depth 36% BDc; CP length 75% of its depth; maximum width of pectoral-fin base 39% BDc (Table 2). Seven BR.</p><p>Pigmentation</p><p>Transformers with pair of narrow stripes across dorsal surface of head: anterior stripe between posterior margin of orbits, posterior stripe between bases of parietal spines; a partial third stripe between lower margin of orbits. Lateral surface of snout with horizontal blotch near nares. Elsewhere, pigment near anterior margin and midway along lateral surface of lower jaw, below anteroventral margin of orbit, and near angle of lower jaw. Cheek with pigment behind posteroventral margin of orbit (Fig. 5a), and diffuse blotch near anterior margin of gas bladder. Five roughly circular “saddles” along dorsal margin of body: anteriormost near origin of spinous dorsal fin, posteriormost near terminal margin of soft dorsal base (Fig. 5 a-b). Lateral midline of CP with short series of close-set melanophores. Ventrally, pigment near insertion of pelvic fins, near origin and termination of anal-fin base, and along posterior third of CP (Fig. 5a). Presence or absence, and location of pigment along dorsolateral surface of hindgut uncertain, area concealed by pectoral fins in image (Fig. 5a).</p><p>Pectoral- and pelvic-fin pigmentation pronounced in transformers. Pectoral fin with series of roughly circular to oblong blotches in uneven rows near mid-fin and toward its outer margin; single blotch near base of rays 12–13. Pelvic fin with blotch on membrane between spine and outermost ray about halfway between inner and outer margins, another blotch near outer margin of fourth ray, and near origin of fin base. Dorsal fin with pigment on webbing or along shaft of second and third spines, and near outer margin of anterior few rays; anal fin with pigment near outer margin of first and second rays; primary rays of caudal fin with pigment on membrane or along shaft of numerous rays near mid-fin and outer margin (Fig. 5a).</p><p>Pigment faded, but juvenile with three bands on lateral surface of head: anterior band near anteroventral margin of orbit down across upper lip; diagonal medial band from supraocular cirrus across eye to posterior margin of interopercle; posterior band from margin of orbit across PPO. Snout with narrow bar or band from rim of lower nostril to dorsal margin of lower lip. Operculum and sides of upper and lower jaws mottled. Abdomen of juvenile with series of faint saddles along dorsal and ventral margins as described for transformers; mid-CP with partial band across dorsal margin. Dorsal and anal fins with series of circular to oblong blotches on shaft and webbing of most elements. Caudal fin with series of pigments in three irregular bands, indication of fourth band near outer margin of existing rays. Pelvic fins with three broad bands of pigment (Fig. 5c). Folding of rays and loss of pigment due to long-term preservation makes pectoral-fin pigmentation pattern uncertain.</p><p>Fin development</p><p>Transformers with full complement of primary elements in all fins. Spinous and soft dorsal-fin bases continuous, spinous base about three times longer than rayed portion. Tips of most dorsal- and all anal-fin rays extend to or beyond posterior margin of CP. Third element of anal fin transformed into third spine in juvenile (Table 3).</p><p>Juvenile with 7+7 primary caudal rays (outermost on each side unsegmented), 3+3 secondary elements (20 total). Gap between first and second dorsal spines narrower than between subsequent spines; second spine about 25% longer than first; spines two through seven similar in length; 12 th shortest; 13 th about three times longer than 12 th. First dorsal pterygiophore inserted above posterior margin of APO. Second spine of anal fin two times longer than first (Table 2); third spine slightly longer than second. Pterygiophore of first anal spine inserted below 12 th dorsal spine; first “true” ray of anal fin inserted below first to second pterygiophore of soft dorsal-fin base; terminal pterygiophore of anal-fin base inserted below sixth to seventh pterygiophore of soft dorsal-fin base. Tips of dorsal and anal rays initially bifurcate, not those in pectoral and pelvic fins. Juvenile with pectoral fins relatively shorter than in transformers, tips of longest rays extend to, but not beyond, terminal margin of dorsal-fin base. Tips of longest pelvic rays extend to third anal spine; tip of pelvic spine short of anus when pressed against body. Membrane attaches innermost pelvic ray to abdominal wall for about 40% of its length. Terminal ray of dorsal fin attached by membrane to body wall for about 15% of its length; terminal ray of anal fin free from body.</p><p>Cephalic and opercular spination, and cephalosensory canals</p><p>Images of transformers reveal supraocular, postocular, parietal, and nuchal ridges, each with spine. Pterotic and posttemporal ridges also present, and small spine on IO 1-L1 and IO 2-L1. Unable to determine presence or absence of cephalosensory canals or details of PPO spination from images, but 9.2 mm larva in Matsunuma et al. (2017) has five spines.</p><p>Description below applies to juvenile only. Spines along APO subdermal or resorbed. Five PPO’s, upper three exposed, lower two subdermal. PPO-1 and -2 along upper margin; PPO-3 slightly below shelf angle; PPO-4 and -5 along lower margin. PPO-1 nearly aligned with lower rim of orbit, oriented slightly upward, its length about 25% OD. PPO-1 nearly two times longer than PPO-2 and -3, small supplemental spine at base of PPO-1. PPO-2 oriented slightly outward from axis of head, similar in length to PPO-3, but more acute; PPO-3 directed posteriorly. Opercle, interopercle, and subopercle lack spines. Cephalosensory canals and pores obscured by epithelium in juvenile, but series of three-tubed scales along trunk lateral line immediately behind head. Numerous scales and scale pockets on shoulder, abdomen, and CP suggest scale development complete or nearly so by 21.0 mm.</p><p>Juvenile with most cranial ridges and spines low, subdermal. Parietal ridge terminates in short, dorsoposteriorly directed parietal and nuchal spines, elevation ≤15° above longitudinal axis of head; nuchal spine attached to outer margin of parietal base, nuchals behind, slightly smaller than parietals. Pterotic and lower posttemporal ridges laterally swollen, both terminate in small spine. Lower posttemporal ridge elevated posteriorly, higher, but shorter, than pterotic ridge. Supraocular ridge smooth, postocular ridge rises to low, obtuse lateral peak near mid-orbit, descends along posterior rim. Entire IO ridge elevated, lateral margin smooth, slight indentation between IO 1 and IO 2. Spine on IO 1-L1 overlaps dorsal margin of upper lip. Coronal and tympanic ridges elevated, tympanic ridge two times higher and longer than coronal; lacks medial interorbital ridge. Vertical pair of short, parallel, weakly dentate sphenotic ridges behind orbit. Elevated supracleithral ridge terminates in short spine.</p><p>Dermal flaps, and supraocular and nasal cirri</p><p>Transformers with short supraocular and nasal cirri; nasal cirrus along dorsal rim of anterior nostril. Juvenile with supraocular cirrus about 85% OD, and encircled by three bands; tip spade-shaped. Nasal cirrus slender, encircled by narrow band about mid-length, tip extends beyond mid-orbit if pressed against forehead. Juvenile with pair of filamentous barbels just above upper lip, barbels shorter than nasal cirrus. Small pigmented flap on anterodorsal surface of eye, and minute flap on anteroventral margin of IO 1–L1. Leafy flap behind IO 2-L1 with many bands, margin double-toothed; another flap along posteroventral margin of PPO adjacent to lowermost ray of pectoral fin. Location, presence or absence, size, and shape of dermal flaps and snout barbels difficult to determine without stain.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87C4FFCE3D57D3CCA32DFF00FB42	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Ditty, James G.;Malca, Estrella;Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes	Ditty, James G., Malca, Estrella, Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes (2024): The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446 (1): 1-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1
039A87C4FFD33D51D3CCA004FE97FA4E.text	039A87C4FFD33D51D3CCA004FE97FA4E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Dendrochirus bellus	<div><p>Dendrochirus “bellus ” and D. zebra</p><p>General morphology and pigmentation patterns for transforming D. “ bellus ” and D. zebra similar to that described for D. barberi and D. hemprichi . Per Kojima (2014), 9.5 mm D. “ bellus ” with large eyes, maximum body depth 38% SL; HL 36% SL. Hindgut long, relatively slender. PPO spines relatively short; pterotic and posttemporal ridges elevated posteriorly. Parietal spines anterior to nuchals, subequal in length, relatively short. Supraocular cirrus pigmented; nasal cirrus unpigmented. Dorsal and anal spines slender; first eight dorsal spines of similar length. Pectoral fins fan-shaped, rays elongate (Fig. 6a). Three stripes across dorsal surface of head: anteriorly between orbital margins, midway between pterotic ridges, and posteriorly near base of parietal spines. Snout with narrow swath from lower nares downward onto upper lip, and from anteroventral margin of orbit across IO1. Pigment near anterior margin and on posterolateral surface of lower lip; diffuse blotch near angle of lower jaw. Cheek with narrow diagonal swath from dorsoposterior margin of maxilla across lower part of APO, and another from posterior margin of orbit across APO; opercle with diffuse, oblong swath (Fig. 6a). Lateral surface of visceral mass unpigmented. Internally, dorsal surface of gas bladder lightly pigmented; hindgut with pigment midway along dorsolateral surface (partially obscured by pectorals in illustration; Fig. 6a). Body with five partial saddles or elongate dorsolateral bands. Ventrally, “circular” pigment on abdomen near origin of pelvic fins, and diffuse blotch on pterygiophores 3–4 and terminal pterygiophore of anal-fin base; also, a diffuse vertical swath from ventral margin to lateral midline near mid-CP. Pectoral fins with diffuse blotch on shaft and membrane near insertion of rays 11–13, a series of blotches in two uneven rows (near mid-fin and toward outer margin), and pigment scattered along outer margin of fin; webbing weakly incised (Fig. 6a). Pelvic fins damaged, but comparably developed 9.2 mm larva with tips of middle rays beyond origin of anal-fin base (Kojima 2014). Caudal-fin outer margin rounded.</p><p>Additional characteristics we observed in Kojima’s (2014) D. “ bellus ” include small cluster of melanophores on upper margin of orbital membrane adjacent to base of supraocular cirrus. Upper four PPO spines subequal in length, lowermost shortest; cephalosensory canal with pore above PPO-1. Parietal and nuchal spines dorsoposteriorly directed, elevation ≤15° above longitudinal axis of head. Supracleithral ridge with terminal spine. Spine on IO1–L1 slightly overlaps upper margin of maxilla. Image of larger cleared and stained larva provided by Kojima (pers. comm.) reveals low supraocular and postocular ridges with short spine along each, and short, blunt spine along posteroventral margin of IO4. First and second dorsal spines of similar length, gap between these spines narrower than subsequent spines. Length of first anal spine about two-thirds that of second; third element of anal fin ray-like, untransformed. Pelvic spine short of anus; pigment on membrane between pelvic spine and outermost ray. Clusters of melanophores near tip of first three dorsal spines, on membrane between spines 2–3 and 4–5, and at various locations along shaft or on membrane of dorsal, anal, and primary caudal rays. Series of melanophores along longitudinal axis of pectoral-fin base (not on surface of visceral mass; Kojima, pers. comm.).</p><p>Per Kojima (2014), 11.5 mm D. zebra with eyes relatively smaller than in D. “ bellus,” maximum body depth 33% SL; HL about 34% SL; nasal and supraocular cirri relatively short. Five PPO spines; cephalosensory canal along shelf with pore between PPO-1 and -2, and -3 and -4. All fins well developed; second dorsal spine about 30% longer than first. Pectoral fins elongate, fan-shaped, webbing between rays well incised; tips of longest rays short of terminal margin of dorsal-fin base. Pectorals also have a series of diffuse, elongate blotches in uneven row across inner half of fin; outer half peppered with melanophores. Tips of longest rays of pelvic fin extend to about middle of anal-fin base; dusky, teardrop shaped blotch on inner third of shaft and membrane of outer two rays; clusters of pigment on webbing near outer margin between most rays (Fig. 6b). Head pigmentation similar to that of D. “ bellus ” with addition of pigment cluster on cheek adjacent to PPO-2. Five dorsolateral bands or saddles of comparable width extend onto spinous- and soft-dorsal fins; posterior pair of bands extends onto anal fin. Ventrally, abdomen with small cluster above insertion of pelvic fins (not visible in lateral view); CP with diffuse ventrolateral cluster near mid-peduncle, and roughly diamond-shaped lateral cluster in hypural area. Light cluster of pigments on dorsolateral surface of hindgut near anus partially obscured by pectoral fins in illustration. Caudal-fin outer margin rounded.</p><p>Additional characteristics we observed in Kojima’s (2014) illustration of D. zebra include small cluster of melanophores on upper margin of orbital membrane adjacent to base of supraocular cirrus as noted for D. “ bellus ”. OD nearly equal to snout length. Upper four PPO spines subequal, lowermost shortest; two small APO spines, uppermost inserted between PPO-2 and -3, lowermost overlays PPO-4. PPO spines somewhat longer in D. zebra than in D. barberi and D. “ bellus,” but placement and orientation similar in all three. Pterotic and posttemporal ridges elevated posteriorly, pterotic ridge longer, but lower, than lower posttemporal. Lower posttemporal ridge with acute terminal margin; small spine on upper posttemporal ridge. Parietal spines anterior to nuchals, subequal in length, relatively short and dorsoposteriorly directed, elevation ≤15° above longitudinal axis of head. Supraocular and postocular spines along orbit. Nasal spine above posterior nostril; nasal and supraocular cirri of similar length, supraocular cirrus partially pigmented. Tip of IO1-L1 and IO2-L1 slightly overlap upper margin of maxilla; short spine along lower margin of IO4. Pair of acute “spine-like” structures or short ridges near margin of opercle (Fig. 6b). Gap between first and second dorsal spines narrower than between subsequent spines. Second dorsal spine about 25% longer than first; second anal spine about two times longer than first. Third element of anal fin ray-like, untransformed; tip of pelvic spine short of anus. Caudal fin unpigmented.</p><p>Juvenile D. zebra &lt;15.0 mm in Matsunuma &amp; Motomura (2019) have three, long snout barbels; nasal cirrus, very long, branched; supraocular cirrus long, unbranched; head lacks obvious dermal flaps. Upper three PPO spines exposed (lower two perhaps subdermal, or resorbed); PPO-1 longest, PPO-2 and -3 of similar length, all lack supplemental spines. Single nasal spine. These juveniles also lack sphenotic, pterotic, lower posttemporal, supracleithral, coronal, tympanic, postorbital, and opercular spines. Therefore, pterotic, lower posttemporal, and supracleithral spines in 11.5 mm transformer either subdermal, or resorbed, by 15.0 mm. Infraorbital ridges smooth, small IO1-L1; IO1-L2 flat, plate-like. Conspicuous oblique band crosses eye from base of supraocular cirrus to interopercle; otherwise, head, body, and pectoral- and pelvic fin pigmentation as described for 11.5 mm D. zebra (Kojima 2014) . Light, downward curved swath from lateral midline to ventral margin of CP (i.e., sixth band) in a 14.0 mm larva examined by Matsunuma &amp; Motomura (2019) corresponds to diamond-shaped, mid-lateral cluster in Fig. 6b. Numerous poorly defined, elongate blotches added to rayed portions of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins in early juveniles.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87C4FFD33D51D3CCA004FE97FA4E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Ditty, James G.;Malca, Estrella;Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes	Ditty, James G., Malca, Estrella, Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes (2024): The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446 (1): 1-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1
039A87C4FFD53D50D3CCA310FD6AF882.text	039A87C4FFD53D50D3CCA310FD6AF882.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Trachyscorpia cristulata (Goode & Bean 1896) Sebastolobinae	<div><p>Trachyscorpia cristulata and Phenacoscorpius nebris</p><p>Early life stages of deep-water members of Idiastion kyphos Eschmeyer, 1965, Neomerinthe spp., Phenacoscorpius nebris Eschmeyer, 1965 ( Scorpaeninae), Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 ( Setarchinae), and Trachyscorpia cristulata (Goode &amp; Bean, 1896) (Sebastolobinae), included in Sebastinae by Hardy (2005), have not been described, to our knowledge. While a visiting scientist at the Smithsonian Institution (NMNH), the senior author examined the smallest available specimen of T. cristulata (32.0 mm SL; USNM 72979; collected 14 February 1902 off Key West, Florida) and P. nebris (40.0 mm SL; USNM 422671; collected 24 May 2013 off Curacao); small juveniles of the other aforementioned taxa were not available in NMNH collections for examination. Our intent was to generate a suite of characteristics to enable recognition and discrimination of late postflexion and transforming larvae of T. cristulata and P. nebris from other scorpaenids in the WNA.</p><p>Trachyscorpia cristulata with cranial spines strongly developed. Elevated parietal ridge terminates in longer nuchal than parietal spines; parietals behind nuchals. Opercle with pair of ridges or struts, upper ridge directed dorsoposteriorly, lower ridge directed posteriorly, short spine at outer margin of each. Pair of spines on IO1 overlap dorsal margin of maxilla, and series of eight laterally projecting spines of varying length along remainder of IO ridge. Other ridges and spines are as described by Ginsburg (1953) and Eschmeyer (1969), and include preorbital (i.e., IO1), supraocular, postocular, nasal, tympanic, pterotic, sphenotic, lower posttemporal, supracleithral, and cleithral; juvenile lacks upper posttemporal spine. PPO-1 longest, aligned with IO ridge, spine directed dorsoposteriorly; length of supplemental spine at its base about one-third that of PPO-1; PPO-1 about two times longer than PPO-2; PPO-2 through -4 similar in length, PPO-5 shortest. Length of supraocular cirrus about one-third OD. Ocular surface with ring of papillae; longer on anterior than posterior half of eye.</p><p>Dorsal-fin count XII, 9; spines increase in length from first to third, progressively shorter thereafter; penultimate spine about one-third that of terminal spine. Anal-fin count III, 5; length of first anal spine about 35% of second; second and third subequal, second notably thicker than third. Pectoral-fin ray count 23, fin length uncertain, rays broken on both sides of body; however, fins typically extend to or just short of anus in juveniles, with longest rays toward upper part of fin (Ginsburg 1953; Eschmeyer 1969). About 30% of innermost pelvic ray attached by membrane to abdomen, based on ray length. Tips of longest pelvic rays extend to anus in specimen examined, but well short of anus in adults (Ginsburg 1953; Eschmeyer 1969). Lateral line extends to base of caudal fin; middle primary caudal rays longer than those toward outer margins. Lacks small slit behind fourth gill arch. Body and fin pigmentation pattern difficult to assess due to long-term preservation; however, head and body peppered with melanophores of various sizes similar to that of juvenile sebastolobines from eastern Pacific (see Moser 1996).</p><p>Phenacoscorpius nebris with cranial spines strongly developed. Parietal and nuchal spines conjoined at base, parietals anterior to and longer than nuchals. Opercle with pair of ridges or struts, upper ridge directed dorsoposteriorly, lower ridge directed posteriorly, short spine at outer margin of each. Pair of spines on IO1 (i.e., preorbital of Eschmeyer 1965) overlap dorsal margin of maxilla, and ridge behind IO1 has five relatively stout, laterally projecting spines (i.e., suborbital and postorbital series of Eschmeyer 1965). Other spines as described by Eschmeyer (1965, 1969) include nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, tympanic, pterotic, upper and lower posttemporal, supracleithral, and cleithral.</p><p>Length of PPO spines differs between left and right sides of head. PPO-1 longest on left side, aligned with IO ridge, length of supplemental spine at its base about one-half that of PPO-1; PPO-2 blunt, “knob-like,” considered absent by Eschmeyer (1965); length of PPO-3 about one-half that of PPO-1; PPO-4 and -5 progressively shorter, lowermost covered by epithelium. PPO-1 and supplemental spine on right side as described above for left side, but PPO-2 longer than -1; PPO-3 blunt, “knob-like,” resembles PPO-2 on left side; PPO-4 and -5 progressively shorter, blunt. Supraocular cirrus short, multifurcate. Three-row arc of short papillae on surface of anterior half of eye; small flap on upper anterior and lower posterior margins of orbit. Small cirrus along IO1; small pigmented flap on ventral margin of lower nostril.</p><p>Dorsal-fin count XII, 9; spines increase in length from first to third, gradually decrease thereafter, penultimate spine about one-half that of terminal spine. Anal-fin count III, 5; second anal spine thicker, 20% longer than third. Pectoral-fin ray count 16, fins placed low on body just above and slightly behind pelvic fins. Melanophores pepper base and inner third of pectoral-fin rays; fins also have two narrow “bands” of pigment near mid-fin. All pectoral rays extend to or slightly beyond anus, with tips of rays 9 through 11 beyond first anal spine.About 50% of innermost pelvic ray attached by membrane to abdomen based on ray length, middle three rays longer than innermost and outermost, all rays well short of anal-fin base. Lateral line incomplete, 3–4 tubed scales immediately behind head. Small slit present behind fourth gill arch.</p><p>Body and fin pigmentation as described for a 29.3 mm Phenacoscorpius megalops Fowler, 1938 (listed as P. nebris in Eschmeyer &amp; Randall 1975: fig. 11). Saddle of pigment near dorsal-fin origin, dark blotch on membrane between fifth and ninth dorsal spines, and dusky band between soft dorsal and anal fins that extends onto associated bases and inner half of rays; also, a band of pigment on CP at base of caudal fin composed of large melanophores. All areas of head peppered with melanophores, including membrane surrounding orbit and lower surface of iris; visceral mass with scattered blotches of pigment.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039A87C4FFD53D50D3CCA310FD6AF882	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Ditty, James G.;Malca, Estrella;Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes	Ditty, James G., Malca, Estrella, Vásquez-Yeomans, Lourdes (2024): The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446 (1): 1-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5446.1.1
