Scientific Name
Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Common Name
Tassled scorpionfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Highly variable in color. Adults 'bearded' with numerous tassels. Juveniles slender with tall dorsal fin (Ref. 48635). Third dorsal spine longest (2.05-2.5) in head; occipital pit absent or very shallow; snout very long (2.7-3.0 in head length); space between opercular spines naked; first dorsal spine short (1.85-2.5) in length of second spine; supraocular and postocular spines broadly joined in adults (only tip of supraocular spine showing) and flaring outward to form a shelf over posterior half of eye (Ref 42181).

Classification

Classified By

Bleeker, 1849

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Sodwana Bay, South Africa (Ref. 4313) to the Mariana Islands (Ref. 9710), north to Taiwan; Palau and Guam in Micronesia; probably more widespread.

Range

27°N - 6°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

250 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 250 m (Ref. 37816)

Trophic Level

3.88 s.e. 0.63 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

36.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 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

Unknown

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (56 of 100)

Resilience

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

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 2334)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated