Parapterois was described as a genus in 1876 by the Dutch physician, herpetologist and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, Bleeker designated Pterois heterurus, which he had described from Ambon Island in 1856, as the type species of the new genus.
In 1876, Parapterois was recognized as a genus by Dutch physician, herpetologist, and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker. He selected Pterois heterurus, which he had previously described from Ambon Island in 1856, to serve as the type species for this newly identified genus.