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Fun Facts about Scorpion Fish Species

[Phylum: Chordata] [Class: Actinopterygii] [Order: Scorpaeniformes] [Family: Scorpaenidae]

This distinctive family of marine fishes includes some of the most venomous species found anywhere in the world, but especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

This section contains fun facts and interesting information about different species of scorpionfish, including where they are found, what they eat, and how they reproduce.

Habitat and Distribution of Scorpionfishes

Scorpaenidae thrive best in the temperate waters of the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

Even so, it's not unusual to spot these bottom-dwellers in parts of the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean, and even the Mediterranean Sea.

They are a ray-finned marine fish that tends to spend most time sitting in wait around shallow coral reefs and rock formations on the seafloor - especially large sunken shipwrecks.

Even though they prefer geographical locations with marine or brackish water, they also inhabit some estuaries and lagoons.

Interesting Fact: Almost all of the Scorpaenidae family of venomous fish have a potent venom contained in their sharp spines. Another guide has more information about fish spike infection and puncture wounds from poisonous marine animals.

Scorpionfish Behaviour and Characteristics

Like the scorpion arthropod, the fish counterpart has also developed a deadly sting contained in the mucus coated sharp spines on its back.

A flattened or compressed body, with a head that usually displays ridges and spines, helps to characterise most of the scorpionfish species.

Here's the thing:

The operculum has no more than two (2) spines and the preoperculum (a bony gill cover) usually has five (5). The suborbital stay found in "mail-cheeked fishes" may also be attached to the preoperculum.

In fact, not all scorpionfishes have scales. But, those that do typically have ctenoid scales that have comblike teeth on the outer edges.

By and large, a single dorsal fin (often notched or incised) will contain up to seventeen (17) spines and seventeen soft rays.

Scorpionfishes Fun Facts and Species InformationThe anal fin rarely has more than three (3) spines and up to nine (9) soft rays - though five is most common.

The pelvic fin features a single spine and usually two to five soft rays.

Some species of scorpionfish do not have a swim bladder. This is one reason why you rarely see them swimming freely in the water column.

Scorpionfish Size

Found in the northern Pacific Ocean, the shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis) is the largest in the family Scorpaenidae.

In fact, mature adult specimens can grow up to 108 centimetres long (43 inches). Whereas, the leaf scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) is one of the smallest at only 10 centimetres long (4 inches).

What Do Scorpionfish Eat?

Some scorpionfish have muted hues (e.g. mottled brown or yellow). Whereas, others display a range of vibrant red or orange colours that render them close to undetectable when concealed among the rocks and reefs.

As a consequence, the physical structure and camouflage of the scorpionfish is crucial for its survival. The feathery fins also help it blend in with the surroundings - usually stony coral reef formations.

Perciformes account for 40% of bony fish and they are suction feeders. Scorpionfish feed in the same manner by capturing its prey before projecting a suction zone to suck the food into its mouth.

In other words:

Being a typical "sit-and-wait" predator, most of these spiny ray fish (including pestilent stonefishes) wait patiently in disguise. A sudden and powerful strike captures passing prey before they swallow it whole.

By and large, the typical diet of scorpionfish will include crustaceans (e.g. crabs, shrimps), mollusks, sea snails, and small bony fishes.

Fun Fact: Scorpionfishes are typical examples of sedentary vertebrate animals that make very little movement - until the night time when they start hunting for food.

How Do Scorpion Fish Reproduce?

Even though they are solitary creatures, scorpionfish gather together and congregate in small groups to perform the mating process.

Some species of scorpionfish engage in internal fertilisation. Whereas others will scatter around 15,000 eggs in a gelatinous "egg balloon" mass in the water column.

Following fertilisation by the males, the eggs float near the surface to avoid most egg-eating predators. The eggs hatch within a few days and the young scorpion fish swim down to the relative safety of the reefs, once they have grown large enough to do so.

Threats and Predators

There are more than three hundred (300) different species of scorpionfish living in the oceans, and most have an average lifespan of about fifteen (15) years.

The deadly venom means they have few natural predators. Nonetheless, large snappers, sharks, and rays will hunt them down.

Pro Tip: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species recently assessed many of the scorpionfish phylum and cited almost all of the species as being of "Least Concern" (LC).

Scorpionfish Species List

Ambon Scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis)


Bearded Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis barbata)


Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)


California Scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata)


Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus)


Eastern Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena cardinalis)


Flasher Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis macrochir)


Lionfish (Pterois)

Fun Fact: Some lionfish species have become favourite exotic specimens for aquarium enthusiasts. Even so, you must use appropriate caution when handling poisonous aquatic creatures.


Raggy Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis venosa)


Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)

The reef stonefish is one of the top death-dealing fish on the planet. They thrive best in the Indo-Pacific coastal regions and some areas of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).


Tassled Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephala


Related Information and Help Guides

Note: The short video [1:17 seconds] presented by "Deep Marine Scenes" contains footage about the cheekspot scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes evides).

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