SCORPAENOPSIS-IOP, A NEW SPECIES OF SCORPAENIDAE FROM SOUTHERN JAPAN

A new scorpaenid fish, Scorpaenopsis iop, is described based on the 8 specimens collected from the east coast of Izu Peninsula, Pacific coas t of Shikoku and Tsushima Islands, Japan. This is a reddish small-size d species, ca. 60 mm standard length, and is characterized by having a head almost scaleless, but covered with numerous small papillae, broa d postocular and tympanic spines, upper opercular spine bicuspid to mu ltiple spine, a somewhat protruded eye from the dorsal contour, 17 (ra rely 16) pectoral fin rays, 33-37 vertical series of scales and 4 pred orsal scales.