Skin sloughing of Australian bullrout, Notesthes robusta (Family Tetrarogidae) – with implications for ongoing ichthyocrinotoxin investigation

Fish skin provides a critical interface with the external environment and a subset of fishes are known to periodically slough their skin including several marine members of the Scorpaenoidei. Our aims here are threefold: a) document sloughing by a freshwater scorpaenoid, Notesthes robusta (Australian bullrout), and detail the variable external appearance of this species; b) describe the behaviour and habitat use of the species and discuss the ecological context that scorpaenoids experience in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments; and c) identify candidate species for further ichthyocrinotoxin ecological investigation. The primary findings of this research indicate that periodic skin sloughing has the potential to manage, regulate, or prevent epibiosis, parasites, and/or pathogens in scorpionfishes and we recommend targeted toxinology and ecological investigation of the few seemingly diadromous members of the Scorpaenoidei.