A Juvenile of Rhinopias cf. argoliba (Scorpaenidae) from the Tropical Western Pacific

A juvenile of Rhinopias cf. argoliba 28 mm SL collected in the western part of the Pacific Ocean eastward of the Philippines is described. It is characterized by an incomplete metamorphosis with some larval characters retained such as the developed spination and relatively straight dorsal contour of the head, absence of the scales and the branched fin rays (except in pelvic fins), and a long penultimate dorsal-fin spine. Comparison of this juvenile with juveniles of R. aphanes 11–22 mm SL reveals the diagnostic importance of the pigmentation of the pectoral fin which disappears in the adult fishes. A possible synonymy of the genera Rhinopias and Pogonoscorpius was repeatedly supposed by the former authors. The poorly-known Pogonoscorpius sechellensis retains the features characteristic for the species of Rhinopias from the earliest ontogenetic stages only, and probably represents a neotenic species of the latter genus.