Introduction

As recognised here, the family contains four genera and at least 10 species, most found in the Southern Hemisphere. Three genera and six species are known from Australia. The fourth genus Medialuna is found in the Eastern Pacific. We follow Johnson (1984), Johnson & Fritsche (1989) in treating the family (along with the Scorpididae and Microcanthidae) as separate from the Kyphosidae. Gosline (1985) reviewed the early classification of the groups. Nelson (2006) placed the groups as subfamilies of the Kyphosidae. Australian workers have sometimes treated them as families (Gomon 2008) or as subfamilies (Hoese et al. (2006). Neira et al. (1997) described larvae of the groups recognising them as separate families. Molecular studies (see Yagishita et al. 2002) did not find evidence for a single large Kyphosidae. Consequently we revert here to the previous classification pending further studies.

The knifefishes (species of Bathystethus and Labracoglossus), previously placed in the family Labracoglossidae, are now considered to be members of the Scorpididaee. They have not been revised, but Ayling & Cox (1982) and Francis (2001) treated the two Australian species. The 'knifefish group' contains two genera and four species from Japan, Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Zealand and Easter Island. Johnson (1984) placed two genera, Bathystethus and Labracoglossus, in the Scorpididae and subsequent molecular work supports that placement (Yagishita et al. 2002). Knifefishes are free-swimming, often in schools adjacent to rocky reefs in shallow water to 20 m. Species are medium sized, reaching 30 cm. The genus Evistius is sometimes placed here, but Whitley (1941) regarded Evistius, which was apparently described on the basis of a juvenile, as a junior synonym of Latridopsis in the family Latridae.

General References

Ayling, T. & Cox, G.J. 1982. Collins Guide to the Seafishes of New Zealand. Auckland : Collins 343 pp. 48 pls 475 figs.

Francis, M. 2001. Coastal Fishes of New Zealand. Auckland : Reed Publishing (NZ) 3rd edn, 103 pp.

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Gosline, W. 1985. Relationships among some relatively deep-bodied percoid fish groups. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 31(4): 351-357

Hoese, D.F. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Family Kyphosidae. pp. 1317-1327 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.

Johnson, G.D. 1984. Percoidei: development and relationships. pp. 464-498 figs 254-264 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Johnson, G.D. & Fritzsche, R.A. 1989. Graus nigra, an omnivorous girellid, with comparative osteology and comments on relationships of the Girellidae (Pisces: Perciformes). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 141: 1-27

Neira, F.J. Miskiewicz, A.G. & Bruce, B.D. 1997. Larvae of five fish families with pattern 10 of the ramus lateralis accessorius nerve (Arripidae, Girellidae, Kyphosidae, Microcanthidae and Scorpididae): relevance to relationships. Bulletin of Marine Science 60(1): 117-138

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Waite, E.R. 1921. Illustrated catalogue of the fishes of South Australia. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 2(1): 1-208 293 figs pl. 1 [fig. 172]

Whitley, G.P. 1941. Ichthyological notes and illustrations. The Australian Zoologist 10(1): 1-50 figs 1-32 pls 1-2

Yagishita, N., Kobayashi, T. & Nakabo, T. 2002. Review of monophyly of the Kyphosidae (sensu Nelson, 1994), inferred from the mitochondrial ND2 gene. Ichthyological Research 49(2): 103-108

History of changes

• Bathystethus Gill, T.N. 1893. A comparison of antipodal faunas. Memoirs of the National Academy of Science Washington 6(5): 91-124 [123] [nom. nov. for Platystethus Günther, 1860].
• Platystethus Günther, A. 1860. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the acanthopterygian fishes in the collection of the British Museum. Squamipinnes, Cirrhitidae, Triglidae, Trachinidae, Sciaenidae, Polynemidae, Sphyraenidae, Trichiuridae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Xiphiidae. London : British Museum Vol. 2 548 pp. [391] [junior homonym of Platystethus Mannerheim, 1831].

  Type species:

   Sciaena cultrata Forster, 1801 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

South Pacific (Lord Howe Island and Easter Island).

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

History of changes

• Cichla cultrata Bloch, M.E. & Schneider, J.G. 1801. Systema Ichthyologiae Iconibus ex Illustratum. Berlin 584 pp. 110 pls. [343] [Sciaena cultrata ex Forster MS listed as a junior synonym; name from the latin adjective cultratus = knife-shaped].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1845.2.21.3, Norfolk Island.

  Type locality references:

  Günther, A. 1860. Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the acanthopterygian fishes in the collection of the British Museum. Squamipinnes, Cirrhitidae, Triglidae, Trachinidae, Sciaenidae, Polynemidae, Sphyraenidae, Trichiuridae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Xiphiidae. London : British Museum Vol. 2 548 pp. [391].
• Platystethus guentheri Ogilby, J.D. 1889. Notes on some fishes new to the Australian fauna. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1889: 151-158 [157].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) AM I.1847, Lord Howe Island; CAS (missing), Lord Howe Island.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Waite, E.R. 1904. Additions to the fish-fauna of Lord Howe Island. No. 4. Records of the Australian Museum 5(3): 135-186 fig. 32 pls 17-24 [161]
• Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2 [399]

Generic Combinations

• Bathystethus cultratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801). —
  Gill, T.N. 1893. A comparison of antipodal faunas. Memoirs of the National Academy of Science Washington 6(5): 91-124 [123] (changed combination as type of genus Bathystethus)

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Julian Rocks (28º37´S) to Port Stephens (32º50´S), NSW, also Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; temperate, south-west Pacific.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Inshore, marine, pelagic, rock reef.

General References

Waite, E.R. 1904. Additions to the fish-fauna of Lord Howe Island. No. 4. Records of the Australian Museum 5(3): 135-186 fig. 32 pls 17-24 [161, pl.19, fig. 2] (description)

Common Name References

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Grey Knifefish)

History of changes

• Labracoglossa Peters, W.C.H. 1866. Mittheilung über Fische. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1866: 509-526 figs 1-4 [513].

  Type species:

   Labracoglossa argenteiventris Peters, 1866 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

South-west Pacific and north-west Pacific.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

History of changes

• Labracoglossa nitida McCulloch, A.R. & Waite, E.R. 1916. Additions to the fish fauna of Lord Howe Island. No. 5. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 40: 437-451 pls 40-43 [439, pl. 41(2)].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM I.9273, Lord Howe Island.
  Paratype(s) AM I.9272; AM I.7860–7861; AM I.6010.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Sydney, NSW (33º53´S) and Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; temperate, south-west Pacific (Norfolk Island).

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Coral reef, inshore, marine, pelagic.

Common Name References

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Blue Knifefish)

History of changes

• Scorpis Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1832. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 8 509 pp. pls 209-245. [503].

  Type species:

   Scorpis georgianus Valenciennes, 1832 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

South Pacific.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

General References

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Common Name References

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (eds) 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 460 pp. [93] (Sweep)

History of changes

• Scorpis aequipinnis Richardson, J. 1848. Ichthyology. 75-139 pls 42-43 & 44 (parts), 45-52, 53 in Richardson, J. & Gray, J.E. (eds). The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror under the Command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, R.N., F.R.S., during the years 1839–43. London : Smith, Elder & Co. Vol. 2 139 pp. [121].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 2004.10.10.1 skin, King George Sound, WA.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Currarong, NSW (35°01'S) to Shark Bay, WA (25°20'S); temperate.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Inshore, marine, rock reef.

Extra Ecological Information

1-25 m.

General References

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [424]

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [606]

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [68, 133]

Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs. [42, 82]

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [209]

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [621]

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [379]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]

Scott, T.D., Glover, C.J.M. & Southcott, R.V. 1974. The Marine and Freshwater Fishes of South Australia. Adelaide : Government Printer 392 pp. figs. [250]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [46] (1284)

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [621] (Sea Sweep, Silver Sweep, Sweep)

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [379] (Maomao, Snapjack)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Sea Sweep)

History of changes

• Scorpis georgianus Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1832. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 8 509 pp. pls 209-245. [503, pl. 245].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) MNHP A–0173, King George Sound, WA; MNHP 9782, King George Sound, WA.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Kangaroo Island, SA (137°36'E) to Kalbarri, WA (27°30'S); temperate.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Inshore, marine, rock reef.

Extra Ecological Information

2-35 m.

General References

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [524]

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [607]

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [68, 133]

Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs. [42, 82]

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [622]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]

Scott, T.D., Glover, C.J.M. & Southcott, R.V. 1974. The Marine and Freshwater Fishes of South Australia. Adelaide : Government Printer 392 pp. figs. [250]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [46] (1283)

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [622] (Banded Sweep, Deepsea Sweep)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Banded Sweep)

History of changes

• Scorpis lineolatus Kner, R. 1865. Reise des Österreichischen Fregatte Novara un die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859, unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstand-Urbair. Zool. Theil. Fische 1 und 2. Abteilung. Wien : Kurl Gerold's & Sohn 272 pp. [108, pl. 5(3)].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHMW 60896, Sydney, NSW.
• Scorpis richardsonii Steindachner, F. 1866. Zur Fischfauna von Port Jackson in Australien. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 53(1): 424-480 pls 1-7 [437, pl. 5(1)] [as Scorpis Richardsonii].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHMW possibly, Port Jackson, NSW.
• Agenor modestus Castelnau, F.L. de 1879. Essay on the ichthyology of Port Jackson. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 1 3(4): 347-402 [350, 371].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP A.9032, Sydney market, NSW.
• Juvenella carangoides Whitley, G.P. 1948. Studies in Ichthyology No. 13. Records of the Australian Museum 22(1): 70-94 figs 1-11 [90, fig. 9].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM IB.1733, Newport, Sydney, NSW.
  Paratype(s) AM I.32502–001 (rereg. from IB. 1733); AM IB.1983.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]
• Hoese, D.F. in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing : Australia Part 1, pp. xxiv 1-670; Part 2, pp. xxi 671-1472; Part 3, pp. xxi 1473-2178. [1326] (Juvenella crangoides)

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Scorpis violacea (Hutton, 1873) [misidentification]. —
  McCulloch, A.R. & Waite, E.R. 1916. Additions to the fish fauna of Lord Howe Island. No. 5. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 40: 437-451 pls 40-43 [443] (Norfolk Island)

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Moreton Bay, QLD (26°37'S) to Port Phillip Bay, VIC (145°02'E) and throughout TAS, rarely to Victor Harbor, SA (138°38'E), also Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; temperate, south-west Pacific (New Zealand).

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Estuary, inshore, marine, rock reef.

Extra Ecological Information

1–30 m.

General References

Carpenter, K.E. 2001. Girellidae, Scorpididae, Microcanthidae. pp. 3297-3303 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp. [3299]

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [524]

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Monodactylidae, Arripidae, Kyphosidae, Girellidae, Microcanthidae, Scorpididae. pp. 596-607 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [607]

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [133]

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [210]

Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Scorpididae. pp. 618-624, figs 544-624 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [623]

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [380]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [46] (1282)

Common Name References

Carpenter, K.E. 2001. Girellidae, Scorpididae, Microcanthidae. pp. 3297-3303 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp. [3299] (FAO) (Silver Sweep)

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [623] (Trumps, Windawindawi)

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [380] (Sweep)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Silver Sweep)

Whitley, G.P. 1948. Studies in Ichthyology No. 13. Records of the Australian Museum 22(1): 70-94 figs 1-11 [90] (for Juvenella carangoides) (False Pompano)

History of changes

• Ditrema violacea Hutton, F.W. 1873. Contributions to the ichthyology of New Zealand. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 5(28): 259-272 pls 7-12, 15 [dated 1872] [261, pl. 8(31b)].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMNZ (apparently lost), Wellington, New Zealand
  Comment: see (Russell, B.C., 1996) [227] for discussion of type.

  Type locality references:

  Russell, B.C. 1996. Type specimens of New Zealand fishes described by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. (1836–1905). Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 26(2): 215-236.

Generic Combinations

• Scorpis violacea (Hutton, 1873). —
  McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Minnie Water (29°45'S) to Sydney (33°51'S), NSW, also Middleton Reef (29°28'S), Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; subtropical, south-west Pacific.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Inshore, marine, rock reef.

General References

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [209]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [237]

Paulin, C., Stewart, A., Roberts, C. & McMillan, P. 1989. New Zealand fish: a complete guide. National Museum of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series 19: 1-279 [193]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [46] (1285)

Common Name References

Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp. [185] (Violet Sweep)

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [209] (Blue Sweep)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Violet Sweep)

History of changes

• Scorpis australis Guichenot, A. 1879. Remarques sur les poissons de la famille des Squammipennes, avec la description de deux nouvelles espèces de Scorpis. Annales de la Société Linnéenne Départ. de Maine-et-Loire 17: 80-86 [85] [possibly a synonym of Scorpis aequipinnis].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Melbourne, VIC.
• Scorpis oblungus Canestrini, G. 1869. Sopra alcuni pesci dell' Australia. Archivio per la Zoologia, l'Anatomia e la Fisiologia (Genova) 2 1: 151-155 pl. [153].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Australia.

History of changes