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Scorpaena cardinalis
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Scorpaenidae
Genus:	Scorpaena
Species:	S. cardinalis
Binomial name
	Scorpaena cardinalis; Solander & J. Richardson, 1842
Synonyms
	Ruboralga cardinalis (Solander & Richardson, 1842); Scorpaena plebeia Solander, 1842; Scorpaena cookii Günther, 1874; Ruboralga cookii (Günther, 1874);

Scorpaena cardinalis, the eastern red scorpionfish, grandfather hapuku, cardinal scorpionfish, Cook's scorpionfish, Cook's rockcod, Kermadec scorpionfish, Northern scorpionfish, red scorpion fish, red scorpion-cod or Sandy-bay cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Taxonomy

Scorpaena cardinalis was first formally described in 1842 by the Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander and the Scottish naval surgeon, naturalist and Arctic explorer Sir John Richardson in Richardson's Contributions to the ichthyology of Australia published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. The type locality was given as White Island, New Zealand,^[3] where the type was collected by Solander in 1769.^[4] This species has been placed in the genus Ruboralga, in 2011 this taxon was redefined as a species complex with Ruboralga confirmed as a junior synonym of Scorpaena, S. cardinalis was confirmed as a valid species with S. jacksoniensis, which had been the type species of Ruboralga, as another valid species along with S. orgila while the taxa S. cookii and S. plebeia were confirmed as synonyms of S. cardinalis.^[5] The specific name cardinalis means "red".^[6]

Description

Scorpaena cardinalis has a laterally compressed body, more so posteriorly. There are many tentacles attached to the head. The fish has a dorsal fin with 12 toxic spines and 9 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 5 soft rays. The pelvic fin has 1 spine and 5 soft rays. The caudal fin has 11 branched rays. The mouth is large and slightly oblique, and the teeth are present on vomer and palatines. The underside of the jaw is smooth with very little bumps and ridges.^[5] This species can vary in coloration and pattern. Usually they are pinkish-red or reddish- orange with brown spots usually present. Posteriorly, they get darker. These mottled colors do not extend to their ventral side, due to being bottom dwelling fish.^[4] It attains a maximum total length of 18 cm (7.1 in).^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Scorpaena cardinalis is found in the temperate waters of the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In New Zealand it is found from the Bay of Plenty northwards,^[4] the Kermadec Islands, Lord Howe Island, Middleton & Elizabeth Reefs and Norfolk Island but it is replaced on the mainland coast of Australia by S. jacksoniensis.^[7] They use cryptic coloration in order to avoid predation, and can vary in color. It usually has skin flaps on the head and dorsal side in order to blend in with corals and the rocky areas in which they dwell.^[5] Present in coral reefs and rockpools, they are bottom dwellers, usually only moving when disturbed.^[8]

Biology

Scorpaena cardinalis is a well-camouflaged ambush predator feeding nocturnally. The bulk of its diet is made up of small fishes, although it also eats crabs, shrimps, and octopus.^[7]

References

^ Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). "Scorpaena cardinalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T69917385A70009717. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69917385A70009717.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Scorpaena cardinalis". FishBase. August 2021 version.
^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Scorpaena". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Paulin, C.D. (1982). "Scorpionfishes of New Zealand (Pisces: Scorpaenidae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 9 (4): 437–450. doi:10.1080/03014223.1982.10423875. ISSN 0301-4223.
^ ^a ^b ^c Motomura, H.; C.D. Struthers; M.A. McGrouther & A.L. Stewart (2011). "Validity of Scorpaena jacksoniensis and a redescription of S. cardinalis, a senior synonym of S. cookii (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)". Ichthyological Research. 58 (4): 315–332. doi:10.1007/s10228-011-0234-2.
^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b Bray, D.J. (2018). "Scorpaena cardinalis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^ Griffiths, Shane P. (2003). "Rockpool ichthyofaunas of temperate Australia: species composition, residency and biogeographic patterns". Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 58 (1): 173–186. Bibcode:2003ECSS...58..173G. doi:10.1016/S0272-7714(03)00073-8.

"Scorpaena cardinalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 19 March 2006.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Scorpaena cardinalis". FishBase. January 2006 version.
Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8