Phantom velvet fish

Scientific name : Paraploactis intonsa

Elongated, cylindrical body. Head ornate with spines, prickles on ventral surface of lower jaw. Short first dorsal fin, starting over the eye. Blackish colour, sometimes mottled with yellow. 14 cm. Distinguished from the wasp fishes (ex. Paracentropogon sp.) by the squat body and the lower fins. From the scorpion fishes in general (ex.Scorpaenopsis diabolus) by the smaller head, lesser number of hard spines in the dorsal fin, first dorsal fin right over the eye. Compared with other species in its family, the profile of the head and the position of the first dorsal fin are diagnostics.

	Description	Author	Place	Size
	Paraploactis intonsa	DANIELE IOP	Indonesia, Lembeh strait	1917 kB