Scientific Name
Scorpaena brasiliensis

Common Name
Barbfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Occipital pit present; two spines on part of preorbital overlapping maxillary; supplemental preopercular spine present; dark brown spots on inner part of pectoral fin (Ref. 13608).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Virginia, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil; not occurring in Bermuda.

Range

38°N - 33°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 100 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.76 s.e. 0.61 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (53 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated