Family Scorpaenidae

by. Nolvyhindarto,S.Si_Encartablog_Animals

Scorpionfishes/Rockfishes

Selected Characters: Body somewhat compressed; spines in dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; suborbital stay present; spines on opercle and preopercle.

This is a large family found in all tropical and temperate seas with a few species entering freshwater. Most are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The largest scorpaenids reach lengths of about 1 meter. There are venom glands associated with the dorsal, anal and pelvic spines. The venom of some tropical species is quite dangerous, but that of local species usually causes only moderate irritation. Most scorpaenids have internal fertilization, and most species in our area (those in the genus Sebastes) are ovoviviparous. Some scorpionfishes (including our Shortspine Thornyhead, Sebastolobus alascanus) are oviparous, laying eggs in a gelatinous balloon. Scorpaenids are major predators of other fishes and are important for sport and commercial fishing industries. There are about 388 species in this family; we have 27 in Puget Sound. This is a common family in the Sound.

Species

Sebastes aleutianus Rougheye Rockfish

Sebastes alutus Pacific Ocean Perch

Sebastes auriculatus Brown Rockfish

Sebastes babcocki Redbanded Rockfish

Sebastes brevispinis Silvergray Rockfish

Sebastes caurinus Copper Rockfish

Sebastes crameri Darkblotched Rockfish

Sebastes diploproa Splitnose Rockfish

Sebastes elongatus Greenstriped Rockfish

Sebastes emphaeus Puget Sound Rockfish

Sebastes entomelas Widow Rockfish

Sebastes flavidus Yellowtail Rockfish

Sebastes helvomaculatus Rosethorn Rockfish

Sebastes maliger Quillback Rockfish

Sebastes melanops Black Rockfish

Sebastes miniatus Vermilion Rockfish

Sebastes mystinus Blue Rockfish

Sebastes nebulosus China Rockfish

Sebastes nigrocinctus Tiger Rockfish

Sebastes paucispinis Bocaccio

Sebastes pinniger Canary Rockfish

Sebastes proriger Redstripe Rockfish

Sebastes rosaceus Rosy Rockfish

Sebastes ruberrimus Yelloweye Rockfish

Sebastes saxicola Stripetail Rockfish

Sebastes zacentrus Sharpchin Rockfish

Sebastolobus alascanus Shortspine Thornyhead

Retrieved from:” http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/ichthyology”