Two new Scorpion Fishes from Queensland

Abstract

The use for the first time of prawn- and otter-trawls in southern Queensland bays in recent years has yielded some interesting fishes which escaped the notice of fishermen and naturalists employing more familiar methods of collecting. Perhaps the most remarkable-looking of these novelties are the various Scorpion Fishes which lurk amongst rocks or weeds, resembling their surroundings, and provided with venomous spines for attack or defence. These Scorpaenidae may be very local in distribution and are specialised, or even grotesque, in shape. Through the courtesy of the Secretary and Chief Administration Officer of the Department of Harbours and Marine, Brisbane (Mr. E. Coulter) and the Government Ichthyologist (Mr. T. C. Marshall), I have been enabled to examine and report upon two very interesting specimens which are evidently new to science, and which are accordingly named below.