Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Scorpaenoidei (Scorpionfishes) >
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) > Scorpaeninae
Etymology: Scorpaenopsis: Latin, scorpaena = a kind of fish, 1706 + Greek, opsis = appearance (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 60 m (Ref. 42181). Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaii.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 51.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4887); max. published weight: 3.5 kg (Ref. 42181)
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Vertical scale rows 50-55; lachrymal bone with 2 spines over maxillary, first points down and forward, second points down and back, sometimes second split distally into 2 points; suborbital ridge usually with 5 spines, sometimes some spines split in larger specimens (Ref. 10482).
This solitary species inhabits the outer edge of the reef (Ref. 583). Usually beneath ledges or near entrance to caves (Ref. 42181). Benthic (Ref. 58302). A prized food fish with population greatly reduced in main Hawaiian islands due to fishing pressure, especially by spear fishermen. Stomach contents include small fishes (holocentrid, acanthurid and Aulostomus chinensis) (Ref. 42181).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E and W.N. Eschmeyer, 2001. Revision of the Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Scopaenopsis, with descriptions of eight new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (34):79 p. (Ref. 42181)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 21.3 - 25, mean 23.1 °C (based on 2 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01288 (0.00620 - 0.02676), b=3.03 (2.86 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.80 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100).