Monophyly and re-definition of the Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Parascorpaena Bleeker 1876 (Scorpaenidae)

A review of the validity of morphological traits defining the scorpionfish genus Parascorpaena Bleeker 1876 resulted in the re-identification of Parascorpaena bandanensis (Bleeker 1851) as Sebastapistes strongia (Cuvier 1829), reducing the number of valid species of Parascorpaena from nine to eight. A modified definition of Parascorpaena, based on morphological characters observed among the valid species, includes: usually complete lateral line, continuing onto the caudal-fin base; second to fifth or sixth pectoral-fin rays branched; usually two or three suborbital spines; body covered with cycloid scales; lower jaw slightly shorter than upper jaw; palatine teeth present; villiform teeth on upper jaw; distinct posterior lacrimal ridge instead of a developed spine; simple anterior and posterior lacrimal spines without additional spinous points; and a posterior lacrimal spine (PLS) oriented strongly forward, with smaller specimens exhibiting ventral orientation with anterior curvature, and those smaller than 20 mm standard length with the PLS oriented postero-ventrally. A concatenated phylogenetic tree constructed using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI), 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA), and recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) markers, demonstrated the monophyletic nature of Parascorpaena. In addition, molecular analysis placed Parascorpaena closer to a group represented by Sebastapistes mauritiana (Cuvier 1829) within the paraphyletic Sebastapistes Gill in Streets 1877.