Scientific Name
Scorpaenopsis cotticeps

Common Name
Sculpin scorpionfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 24. With 33-37 vertical scale rows; 4 predorsal scales; a blunt head profile, eye protruded a little from the dorsal contour of head, no hump behind head; 2 spines on lachrymal overlying maxillary (1st spine forward and 2nd spine backward), broad postocular and tympanic spines and many small papillae on head (Ref. 10895). Interorbital ridges elevated posteriorly to join tip of tympanic spines; base of parietal spines not curving into occipital pit; first dorsal spine 1.6-1.9 in second spine (Ref 42181).

Classification

Classified By

Fowler, 1938

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Japan, Philippines, South China Sea, Queensland (Australia), Seychelles, Somalia, and the Gulf of Aden.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

15 m

Depth To - meters

70 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 15 - 70 m (Ref. 42181)

Trophic Level

3.63 s.e. 0.63 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

6.3 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

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated