TheScorpaenidae(also known asscorpionfish) are afamilyof mostlymarinefishthat includes many of the world's mostvenomousspecies. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomousmucus.The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas but mostly found in theIndo-Pacific.They should not be confused with thecabezones,of the genusScorpaenichthys,which belong to a separate, though related, family,Cottidae.
| Scorpionfish | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scorpaenopsis oxycephala | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Scorpaenoidei |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae A. Risso,1826 |
| Type species | |
| Scorpaena porcus | |
| Subfamilies | |
|
See text | |
Taxonomy
editScorpaenidae was described as a family in 1826 by the FrenchnaturalistAntoine Risso.[1]The family is included in the suborder Scorpaenoidei of the order Scorpaeniformes in the 5th Edition ofFishes of the World[2]but other authorities place it in the Perciformes either in the suborder Scorpaenoidei[3]or the superfamily Scorpaenoidea.[4]The subfamilies of this family are treated as valid families by some authorities.[3]
Subfamilies and tribes
editScorpaenidae is divided into the following subfamilies andtribes,containing a total of 65 genera with no less than 454 species:[2][1]
- SubfamilySebastinaeKaup,1873(Rockfishes)
- TribeSebastiniKaup, 1873
- TribeSebastolobiniMatsubara, 1943
- SubfamilySetarchinaeMatsubara,1943
- SubfamilyNeosebastinaeMatsubara, 1943
- SubfamilyScorpaeninaeRisso, 1826(Scorpionfishes and lionfishes)
- TribeScorpaeniniRisso, 1826
- TribePteroiniKaup, 1873
- SubfamilyCaracanthinaeGill, 1885(Orbicular velvetfishes or coral crouchers)
- SubfamilyApistinaeGill,1859
- SubfamilyTetraroginaeJ.L.B. Smith,1949(Sailback scorpionfishes or wasp fishes)
- SubfamilySynanceiinaeSwainson,1839(Stonefishes)
- TribeMinoiniJordan&Starks,1904
- TribeChoridactyliniKaup, 1859
- TribeSynanceiiniSwainson 1839
- SubfamilyPlectrogeniinaeFowler,1938
Characteristics
editScorpaenidae have a compressed body with the head typically having ridges and spines. There are 1–2 spines on theoperculum,with 2 normally being divergent, and 3–5 on the preoperculum, normally 5. The suborbital stay is normally securely attached to the preoperculum, although in some species it may not be attached. If there are scales they are typicallyctenoid.They normally have a singledorsal finwhich is frequently incised. The dorsal fin contains between 11 and 17 spines and 8 and 17 soft rays while theanal finusually has between 1 and 3 spines, normally 3, and 3 to 9 soft rays, typically 5, There is a single spine in thepelvic finand between 2 and 5 soft rays, again typically 5, while the largepectoral fincontains 11-25 soft rays and sometimes has a few of the lower rays free of its membrane. The gill membranes are not attached to the isthmus. In some species, there is noswim bladder.There are venom glands in the spines of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins in some species. Most species utilise internal fertilisation, and some species areovoviviparouswhile others lay their eggs in a gelatinous mass, withScorpaena guttatabeing reported to create a gelatinous "egg balloon" as large as 20 cm (7.9 in) across.[2]The largest species is theshortraker rockfish(Sebastes borealis) which attains a maximumtotal lengthof 108 cm (43 in) while many species have maximum total lengths of 5 cm (2.0 in).[5][6]
Distribution and habitat
editScorpaenidae species are mainly found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but some species are also found in the Atlantic Ocean.[2]Some species such as the lionfishes in the genusPteroisare invasive non native species in areas such as theCaribbean[7]and the easternMediterranean Sea.[8]They are found in marine and brackish habitats.[5]They typically inhabit reefs, but can also be found in estuaries, bays, and lagoons.
References
edit- ^abRichard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014)."Family-group names of Recent fishes".Zootaxa.3882(2): 001–230.doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1.PMID25543675.
- ^abcdJ. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016).Fishes of the World(5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 468–475.ISBN978-1-118-34233-6.
- ^abRicardo Betancur-R; Edward O. Wiley; Gloria Arratia; et al. (2017)."Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes".BMC Evolutionary Biology.17(162): 162.Bibcode:2017BMCEE..17..162B.doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3.PMC5501477.PMID28683774.
- ^Hisashi Imamura (2004)."Phylogenetic Relationships and New Classification of the Superfamily Scorpaenoidea (Actinopterygii: Perciformes)".Species Diversity.9:1–36.doi:10.12782/specdiv.9.1.
- ^abFroese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2021)."Scorpaenidae"inFishBase.June 2021 version.
- ^Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2021)."Sebastidae"inFishBase.June 2021 version.
- ^Hamner, R. M.; Freshwater, D. W.; Whitfield, P. E. (2007). "Mitochondrial cytochrome b analysis reveals two invasive lionfish species with strong founder effects in the western Atlantic".Journal of Fish Biology.71:214–222.Bibcode:2007JFBio..71S.214H.doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01575.x.
- ^Weisberger, Mindy (28 June 2016)."Aliens Attack! Invasive Lionfish Arrive in Mediterranean".livescience.com.Retrieved13 February2020.
Further reading
edit- Doubilet, David (November 1987). "Scorpionfish: Danger in Disguise".National Geographic.Vol. 172, no. 5. pp. 634–643.ISSN0027-9358.OCLC643483454.
External links
edit
- Scorpaenidae entryon the Animal Diversity Web.
- Scorpionfish Rescue - Koh Phangan, Thailand