Cocotropus


Cocotropus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, velvetfishes belonging to the family Aploactinidae. The genus is found in the Indian and western Pacific oceans.

Taxonomy

Cocotropus was first described as a genus in 1858 by the German naturalist Johann [Jakob Kaup] as a monotypic genus, the only species classified within it being Corythobatus echinatus, which had been described in 1849 by the Danish zoologist Theodore Cantor from Penang in Malaysia. The genus Cocotropus is classified within the family Aploactinidae in the suborder Scorpaenoidei within the order Scorpaeniformes, although this family is also treated as a subfamily of the stonefish family Synanceiidae within the Scorpaenoidei, which in turn is treated as a superfamily within the order Perciformes. The name of the genus, Cocotropus was not explained by Kaup but may be a compound of coccum, which means "scarlet", and tropus, meaning "manner" or "way", so a "scarlet fish", however C. echinatus is reddish brown rather than scarlet.

Species

There are currently 17 recognized species in this genus:

Characteristics

Cocotropus velvetfishes are characterised by the gill membranes not being attached to the isthmus which has fleshy extensions. The anus is just in front of the origin of the anal fin while the dorsal fin is continuous. There are parallel ridges between the eyes. The body is covered in velvety scales. The pelvic fin has a single spine and 3 rays. These are small fishes, the largest is the roughskin scorpionfish which reaches a maximum published total length of.

Distribution and habitat

Cocotropus velvetfishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region from the eastern coasts of Africa to New Caledonia, north to Japan and south to Australia. They are little know fishes most often found sheltering in crevices, underneath coral rubble, or within coral-lined algal areas on either coral or rock reefs.