Paracentropogon longispinis (Cuvier, 1829)

Common Names and Classification

Paracentropogon longispinis, commonly called the wispy waspfish, sailfin waspfish, whiteface waspfish, or whiteface roguefish, is a species of marine ray-finned waspfish. It is classified in the subfamily Tetraroginae, which is part of the family Scorpaenidae — the family that includes scorpionfishes and their close relatives.

Type Species Status

It is the type species of the genus Paracentropogon.

Distribution Range

This species occurs in the central Indo-West Pacific. Its known range extends from southern India, Thailand, and Malaysia through Indonesia to western, northern, and eastern Australia.

Depth and Habitat

Paracentropogon longispinis lives at depths between 2 and 60 feet, where it occupies sandy, silty, muddy, or rubble bottoms, as well as meadows of seagrass in the family Zosteraceae.

Feeding Behavior

It is a nocturnal, benthic ambush predator. It hunts from a hiding spot by mimicking a crumpled dead leaf or a drifting piece of seaweed, and feeds on shrimps and other small crustaceans, which it sucks into its mouth.