TheScorpaenidae (also known asscorpionfish) are afamily of mostlymarinefish that includes many of the world's mostvenomous species.[1] As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomousmucus. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas, especially in theIndo-Pacific region. They should not be confused with thecabezones, of the genusScorpaenichthys, which belong to a separate, though related, family,Cottidae.
Scorpaenidae was described as a family in 1826 by the FrenchnaturalistAntoine Risso.[2] The family was included in the suborder Scorpaenoidei of the order Scorpaeniformes in the fifth edition ofFishes of the World.[3] However, more recent authorities place it in the suborder Scorpaenoidei of the order Perciformes. Following a major revision in 2018, several groups previously treated as subfamilies of Scorpaenidae, such asSynanceiidae andPlectrogeniidae, are now treated as their own families, while several tribes placed within Scorpaenidae, such asPteroinae, are now treated as their own subfamilies.[1][4]
The Scorpaenidae have a compressed body with the head typically having ridges and spines. One or two spines are on theoperculum, with two normally being divergent, and three to five on the preoperculum, normally five. The suborbital stay is normally securely attached to the preoperculum, although in some species it may not be attached. If scales are present, they are typicallyctenoid. They normally have a singledorsal fin, which is frequently incised. The dorsal fin contains between 11 and 17 spines and 8 and 17 soft rays, while theanal fin usually has between one and three spines, normally three, and three to nine soft rays, typically five, A single spine is in thepelvic fin with between two and five soft rays, again typically five, while the largepectoral fin contains 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. Some species have noswim bladder. Venom glands are in the spines of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins in some species. Most species use internal fertilisation, and some species areovoviviparous while others lay their eggs in a gelatinous mass, withScorpaena guttata being reported to create a gelatinous "egg balloon" as large as 20 cm (7.9 in) across.[3] The largest species is theshortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis), which attains a maximumtotal length of 108 cm (43 in), while many species have maximum total lengths of 5 cm (2.0 in).[11][12]
Scorpaenidae species are mainly found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but some species are also found in the Atlantic Ocean.[3] Some species, such as the lionfishes in the genusPterois, are invasive non-native species in areas such as theCaribbean[13] and the easternMediterranean Sea.[14] They are found in marine and brackish-water habitats.[11] They typically inhabit reefs, but can also be found in estuaries, bays, and lagoons.
^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.
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