Scorpaena guttata
California Scorpionfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Scorpaeniformes (Lionfish, Stonefish and others)
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes)
Scorpaena
Scorpaena guttata (California Scorpionfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Santa Cruz in central California, USA to Punta Abreojos, Baja California; including northern Gulf of California and Guadalupe Island in Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal. depth range 26-183 m.
Biology
Usually occurs in rocky areas of bays and along shore, especially in caves and crevices (Ref. 2850). Prefers depths less than 26 m (Ref. 121641). An excellent food fish (Ref. 2850). Venomous spines in the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins (Ref 13513). Minimum depth range based on occurrence (Ref. 121641).
Max length: 43.0 cm TL; max age: 21 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2008-05-01. Resilience: Low (K=0.12-0.3; tmax = 21; tm = 2).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann (1983) A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p.
Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell (1990) A colour atlas of dangerous marine animals. Wolfe Medical Publications Ltd, W.S. Cowell Ltd, Ipswich, England. 192 p.
Shanks, A.L. and G.L. Eckert (2005) Population persistence of California Current fishes and benthic crustaceans: a marine drift paradox. Ecol. Monogr. 75:505-524.
Patzner, R.A. (2008) Reproductive strategies of fish. pp. 311-350. In Rocha, M.J., A. Arukwe and B.G. Kapoor (eds). Fish reproduction: cytology, biology and ecology. Science Publisher, Inc. Oxford. 631 p.
Roberts, D.A., E.E. DeMartini and K.M. Plummer (1984) The feeding habits of juvenile-small adult barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) in nearshore waters off northern San Diego county. Calif Coop Ocean Fish Invest Rep 25:105-111.
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