Red deepwater scorpionfish
📖 Overview
Found on the continental shelf and continental slope. Benthic . The dorsal spine contains poison glands which can inflict painful wounds .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 4 - 6. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: scale rows between 6th dorsal-fn spine and lateral line 8-10 (usually 9); scale rows between last dorsal-fn spine and lateral line 10-13 (11); middle postorbital scale rows 3-4 (3); caudal-peduncle depth 8.2-9.6% (moderately 9.9%) of SL; interorbital width at vertical midline of eye 19.8-24.2% (22.3%) of HL, maxillary depth 14.3-16.9% (15.6%), and lower opercular spine length 28.0-33.6% (31.3%); dorsal margin of interorbital space is somewhat fattened; with nasal and parietal spines; supraocular spine is rudimentary; second lacrimal spine directed posteroventrally; tip of the lower opercular spine just short of or reaching to posterior margin of opercle (sometimes beyond margin in specimens from ca. 15.0 cm SL); jaws with short, dense conical teeth; premaxillary teeth in 3-6 irregular rows, totaling ca. 200 teeth. Colouration: head and body base color scarlet to dull red, with numerous small smudge-like or blurred black blotches above the lateral line when fresh; black distal margin on caudal fin in specimens from ca. > 10.0 cm SL; oral surface uniformly dull- to coal black in preserved specimens (uniformly pale, sometimes a few smudges on specimens up to ca. 10.0 cm SL) .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Red deepwater scorpionfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 180 - 704 m . Deep-water West Pacific: Andaman Sea to Fiji; north to Japan; south to New Caledonia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lioscorpius longiceps longimanus | Alcock | 1894 | Synonym |
| Lythrichthys cypho | Fowler | 1938 | Synonym |
| Lythrichthys eulabes | Jordan & Starks | 1904 | Synonym |
| Scorpaenella cypho | Fowler | 1938 | Synonym |
| Starches longimanus | Alcock | 1894 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .
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