Latin name

Scorpaenodes caribbaeus

Other name

Scorpaenodes caribbaeus

Identification

The reef scorpionfish has a bony body. It has several poisonous spines protruding from its upper back. The spines are covered with mucus that contains venom. The toxins are produced in special venom sacs located in recesses under the fins. This species also has several small tassels extending from the head. It has a terminal mouth with an upper jaw protruding beyond the eye and small teeth. The occipital fossa is absent. The palatine is absent. Preorbital processes absent. Suborbital ridge with 4 or 5 spinous processes.

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5.

These fish have broad, fan-shaped fins. The tail is relatively short compared to the size of the body and is strongly indented.

Fish colouring

The reef scorpionfish has numerous spots and small warts all over its body which help camouflage it by giving the appearance of an uneven surface to match the colour of the skin. Has a conspicuous dark spot on the spines of the rear dorsal fins. 

Distribution

Widespread in the western Atlantic: from Florida, USA and the Bahamas to Panama and northern South America. Antilles, western and southern Caribbean. Indo-Pacific.

Habitat

Tropical marine species. They live on reefs and rocky crevices in relatively shallow waters, at depths of 5 to 55 metres.  

Size

The size of a mature fish ranges from 17 to 35 cm with an average weight of 1-1.5 kg. The life expectancy of individuals of this species varies between 10-15 years. 

Behavior

They are nocturnal and spend most of the day dormant, hiding among the coral. At night they hunt for small fish. This species is solitary except when they mate during the mating season.

Food and feeding habits

The reef scorpionfish feeds mainly on small fish. Its excellent camouflage makes it invisible to smaller fish looking for food or shelter. More than 65% of its diet consists of small herbivorous fish, with the remainder being aquatic snails and small crustaceans. When prey swims by, the predator sucks it in and eats it with a narrow row of teeth in its mouth. Because of this method of feeding, this species is considered an ambush predator.

Reproduction

The mating season for reef scorpionfish is from May to June when the water is warm. This is an egg-laying species. The female releases an average of 2,000 to 15,000 eggs directly into the water, immediately after the male releases sperm into the water to fertilise the eggs. The pair then hide to avoid attracting predators to their eggs. Within two days, the fry hatch from the eggs and remain close to the surface until they are over one centimetre in size.

Fishing

Fished for sale as exotic aquarium fish.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.