Scorpaena scrofa
Scorpaena scrofa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
Family: | Scorpaenidae |
Genus: | Scorpaena |
Species: | S. scrofa
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Binomial name | |
Scorpaena scrofa | |
Synonyms | |
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Scorpaena scrofa, common name the red scorpionfish, bigscale scorpionfish, large-scaled scorpion fish[3] or Rascasse is a venomous marine species of fish in the family Scorpaenidae, the "scorpionfish".[2]
Description
Scorpaena scrofa is the largest eastern Atlantic scorpion fish.[4] Colouration ranges from brick-red to a light pink, and it has dark coloured blotches on its body. It has venomous spines, can achieve a maximum weight of approximately 3 kilograms (6.6 lb).[5] It can grow to a maximum length of 50 centimetres (20 in), but is commonly around 30 cm (12 in).[5]
It has 12 dorsal spines, 9 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 5 soft rays. It often has a dark spot on its spinous dorsal spines between the 6th and 11th.[5][6] It has long supraorbital tentacles.
Distribution
This species is found in the Mediterranean Sea. It is also found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean around the British Isles, where it is rare, south to Senegal, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.[5]
Habitat
Scorpaena scrofa is demersal and lives in marine, and brackish environments with rocky, sandy or muddy bottoms at depths of 20–500 m (66–1,640 ft).[5] By day, it lives in burrows and caves. At night it comes out to hunt.[4]
Behaviour
This species is a sedentary, solitary and non-migratory fish. It is predatory, feeding on other fish, as well as crustaceans and molluscs.[5] This is one of the fish used by the marine leech Pontobdella muricata as a host.[7]
As food
Scorpaena scrofa is a traditional ingredient in Marseille bouillabaisse. It is also widely used in Japanese cuisine.
References
- ^ Nunoo, F.; Poss, S.; Bannermann, P. & Russell, B. (2015). "Scorpaena scrofa". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015. IUCN: e.T198748A15592127. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198748A15592127.en. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 15 January 2019.
- ^ "Marine Species Identification Portal : Large-scaled scorpion fish - Scorpaena scrofa". Species-identification.org. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ a b "Scorpaena scrofa". Malawicichlidhomepage.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Scorpaena scrofa". FishBase.
- ^ Greece. "Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa) | Archipelago Wildlife Library". Wildlife-archipelago.gr. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ "Pontobdella muricata Linnaeus, 1758". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
External links
- Photos of Scorpaena scrofa on Sealife Collection
- Drawing showing side view
- Image
- Embryonic and larval development of largescaled scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa (Scorpaenidae)