Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

Taxobox
name = Scorpionfish



image_width = 250px
image_caption = Red lionfish, "Pterois volitans"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Scorpaeniformes
familia = Scorpaenidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
*"Brachypterois"
*"Dendrochirus"
*"Ebosia"
*"Hoplosebastes"
*"Idiastion"
*"Iracundus"
*"Neomerinthe"
*"Neoscorpaena"
*"Parapterois"
*"Parascorpaena"
*"Phenacoscorpius"
*"Pogonoscorpius"
*"Pontinus"
*"Pteroidichthys"
*"Pterois"
*"Rhinopias"
*"Scorpaena"
*"Scorpaenodes"
*"Scorpaenopsella"
*"Scorpaenopsis"
*"Sebastapistes"
*"Taenianotus"
*"Thysanichthys"
*"Ursinoscorpaenopsis"

The scorpionfish are a family (Scorpaenidae) of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas, but mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. They should not be confused with the cabezones, of the genus "Scorpaenichthys", which belong to a separate, though related family, Cottidae.

Some types, such as the lionfish, are attractive as well as dangerous, and highly desired for aquaria.

General characteristics of family members include a compressed body, ridges and/or spines on the head, one or two spines on the operculum, and three to five spines on the preopercle. The dorsal fin will have 11 to 17 spines, often long and separated from each other, and the pectoral fins will be well-developed, with 11 to 25 rays. The spines of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins all have venom glands at their bases. [cite journal |last=Taylor |first=G. |title=Toxic fish spine injury: Lessons from 11 years experience |journal=South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society journal |volume=30 |issue=1 |date=2000 |issn=0813-1988 |oclc=16986801 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/5828 |accessdate=2008-06-15 ]

Most species are bottom-dwellers that feed on crustaceans and smaller fish. Most Scorpionfish, such as the stonefish, wait in disguise for prey to pass them by before swallowing, while lionfish often ambush their prey. When not ambushing, lionfish may herd the fish, shrimp, or crab in to a corner before swallowing. Scorpionfish feed by opening their mouth, then their gills a fraction of a second apart, creating suction. Stripers, grouper, bass, snook, frogfish, toadfish, sculpin, etc., also feed this way, but the scorpionfish, toadfish and sculpins are the only members of this group that have jaw teeth.

Scorpaenid systematics are complicated and unsettled. "Fishes of the World" recognizes 10 subfamilies with a total of 388 species, while (as of 2006) FishBase follows Eschmeyer and has 3 subfamilies, 25 genera, and 200 species, some of the species being removed to family Sebastidae which other authorities do not follow.

In addition to the two basic names above, common names for family members also include "firefish", "turkeyfish", "dragonfish", and "stingfish", usually with adjectives added.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=264 FishBase info for Scorpaenidae]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/path/Scorpaenidae.html#Scorpaenidae Scorpaenidae entry] on the Animal Diversity Web.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • scorpionfish — [skôr′pē ənfish΄] n. pl. scorpionfish or scorpionfishes (see FISH) any of various small, marine scorpaenids (esp. genus Scorpaena) with poisonous spines in the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins: often written scorpion fish …   English World dictionary

  • scorpionfish — /skawr pee euhn fish /, n., pl. (esp. collectively) scorpionfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) scorpionfishes. any of several tropical and temperate marine scorpaenid fishes, esp. members of the genus Scorpaena, many having… …   Universalium

  • scorpionfish — noun marine fishes having a tapering body with an armored head and venomous spines • Syn: ↑scorpion fish, ↑sea scorpion • Hypernyms: ↑scorpaenid, ↑scorpaenid fish • Hyponyms: ↑plumed scorpionfish, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • scorpionfish — noun Any of the family Scorpaenidae of mostly marine fish, including many of the worlds most venomous species, the sting taking the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus …   Wiktionary

  • scorpionfish — noun (plural same or scorpionfishes) a marine fish, typically red, with spines on the head that are sometimes venomous. [Family Scorpaenidae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • scorpionfish — scor•pi•on•fish [[t]ˈskɔr pi ənˌfɪʃ[/t]] n. pl. (esp. collectively) fish, (esp. for kinds or species) fish•es. ich any of several tropical and temperate marine fishes, esp. members of the genus Scorpaena, many having venomous spines Also called… …   From formal English to slang

  • scorpionfish —   Nohu (see Haw. Eng. entry and entries that follow it) …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • False scorpionfish — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

  • Weedy scorpionfish — Taxobox name = Weedy scorpionfish image width = 270px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Scorpaeniformes familia = Scorpaenidae subfamilia = Scorpaeninae genus = Rhinopias species = R. frondosa binomial =… …   Wikipedia

  • Smoothskin scorpionfish — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

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