{{Short description|Species of ray-finned fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = CentrogenyVaigiensisRLS.jpg | grandparent_authority = Fowler, 1907<ref name = VDLEF>{{cite journal | author1 = Richard van der Laan | author2 = William N. Eschmeyer | author3 = Ronald Fricke | name-list-style = amp |year=2014 | title = Family-group names of Recent fishes | url = https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3882.1.1/10480 | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3882 | issue =2 | pages = 001–230}}</ref> | parent_authority = J. Richardson, 1842<ref name = CofF>{{Cof record|genid=1760|title=''Centrogenys''|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> | taxon = Centrogenys vaigiensis | display_parents = 3 | authority = (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) | synonyms = *''Scorpaena vaigiensis''<br /><small>Quoy & Gaimard, 1824</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{ITIS | taxon = ''Centrogenys vaigiensis'' | id = 645614 | accessdate = 17 February 2010}}</ref> }}
The '''false scorpionfish''' ('''''Centrogenys vaigiensis'''''), also known as '''prettyfins''', is a species of ray-finned fish, one of three species in the genus '''''Centrogenys''''', which is the only genus in the family '''Centrogenyidae'''.<ref name="FishBase">{{FishBase | genus = Centrogenys | species = vaigiensis | month = January | year =2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Matsunuma |first=Mizuki |last2=Johnson |first2=Jeffrey W. |date=2023-11-08 |title=Revision of the Indo-Pacific Genus Centrogenys Richardson, 1842 (Centrogenyidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Australia |url=https://bioone.org/journals/ichthyology-and-herpetology/volume-111/issue-4/i2022103/Revision-of-the-Indo-Pacific-Genus-Centrogenys-Richardson-1842-Centrogenyidae/10.1643/i2022103.full |journal=Ichthyology & Herpetology |volume=111 |issue=4 |doi=10.1643/i2022103 |issn=2766-1512|url-access=subscription }}</ref> They are pale grey or brown and usually grow no longer than {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}}. False scorpionfish are distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific, bounded by the Ryukyu Islands of Japan to the north and Australia to the south, the Nicobar Islands to the west and New Guinea to the east.
==Description== False scorpionfishes can grow to a maximum length of {{convert|25|cm|abbr=on}}, but are usually no longer than {{convert|9.3|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="FishBase"/> The operculum (bony covering of gills) has two spines, the lower of which is more conspicuous.<ref name="FAO">{{Cite FTP |year=1999|title=The Living Marine Resource of the Western Central Pacific|location=Rome|volume=4|issue=Bony fishes part 2|issn=1020-6868|url=ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/x2400e/x2400e43.pdf|server=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|url-status=dead|accessdate=17 March 2010}}</ref> False scorpionfish have 36 to 44 lateral line scales.<ref name="FAO"/>
False scorpionfishes have 13 or 14 dorsal fin spines and 9 to 11 branched dorsal rays.<ref name="FAO"/> The base of the anal fin is short, and has three spines and five segmented rays. The second anal fin spine is the longest. The pectoral fins have 12 to 14 rays, whereas pelvic fins have one spine and three rays.<ref name="FAO"/> A membrane connects the inner pelvic ray to the body.<ref name="FAO"/>
The body overall is pale brown or grey. The fins may be the same colour or lighter, or even clear.<ref name="FAO"/> The ventral side is paler than the dorsal side, and large brown or grey spots mottle the pectoral and pelvic fins and also the forward portion of the anal fin. False scorpionfish feed upon small fishes, shrimps, and crabs.<ref name="FAO"/>
===Mimicry=== The false scorpionfish appears very similar to the true scorpionfish, to the point of originally being described as a species of ''Scorpaena''.<ref name="jrandall">{{cite journal|last=Randall|first=John E.|year=2005|title=A Review of Mimicry in Marine Fishes|journal=Zoological Studies|volume=44|issue=3|pages=302–304|url=http://www.sinica.edu.tw/zool/zoolstud/44.3/299.pdf|accessdate=18 March 2010|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122213/http://www.sinica.edu.tw/zool/zoolstud/44.3/299.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> This similarity protects the false scorpionfish from predators, which would not prey upon the very venomous true scorpionfish.
==Distribution and habitat== They are brackish-water or marine fish, living in the benthopelagic layer.<ref name="FishBase"/> Their range encompasses the Indo-West Pacific, from the Nicobar Islands to New Guinea, southwards to northern Australia, and as far north as the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.<ref name="FishBase"/> False scorpionfish occur on rocky bottoms and reefs, almost always those with ample seagrass covering.<ref name="tuttle">{{cite book|last=Tomascik|first=Tomas|title=The ecology of the Indonesian seas, Part 2|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|year=1997|pages=659|isbn=978-962-593-163-0}}</ref> They are most commonly found in shallow waters along the coast.<ref name="FishBase"/>
==Relationship to humans== False scorpionfishes have little or no role in commercial fisheries.<ref name="FAO"/> However, they are occasionally found in home aquaria.<ref name="FishBase"/><ref name="FAO"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sealifephotos|280055}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1126975}}
Category:Labriformes Category:Fish described in 1824