Scientific Name
Scorpaena guttata

Common Name
California scorpionfish

Biology
Usually occurs in rocky areas of bays and along shore, especially in caves and crevices (Ref. 2850). An excellent food fish (Ref. 2850). Venomous spines in the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins (Ref 13513).

Classification

Classified By

Girard, 1854

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Santa Cruz in central California, USA to Punta Abreojos, Baja California; including northern Gulf of California and Guadalupe Island in Mexico.

Range

37°N - 27°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

183 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 183 m (Ref. 2850), usually ? - 30 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

3.82 s.e. 0.61 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

43.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (57 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.3; tmax = 21; tm = 2)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD)