Animal Profiles
Fish

Scorpion Fish

Scorpaenidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Scorpionfishes are bottom-associated predators with spiny bodies and strong camouflage. This account describes the red scorpionfish, an eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean species that takes small marine animals.

Red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), the representative described here.

Red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), the representative described here.

Vicmicallef · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Scorpaena scrofa is the representative used here. It occupies eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, living over rocky, sandy or muddy bottoms. This account does not describe the full scorpionfish family.
Habitat
Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Fishes, crustaceans and molluscs provide food.

Classification

Common name
Scorpion Fish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Scorpaenidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Scorpaeniformes
Family
Scorpaenidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is mainly solitary.
  • It eats fish and invertebrates.
  • It lives over several kinds of seabed.

Habitat and range

Scorpaena scrofa is the representative used here. It occupies eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, living over rocky, sandy or muddy bottoms. This account does not describe the full scorpionfish family.

Appearance and adaptations

A broad head, spiny fins and irregular outline blend into the surrounding bottom. Colour varies with the animal and its setting. A dark marking can occur on the spiny dorsal fin.

Diet and behaviour

Fishes, crustaceans and molluscs provide food. Red scorpionfish are usually solitary and remain close to the bottom rather than swimming continuously in open water.

Sources

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