Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Scorpaena bergii, Goosehead scorpionfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

ridge under eye: 1 spine
short branched cirrus over eye
large pit behind eyes
D large spot between spines IV-VII
C - 3 bars, A - 3 stripes
bone over front mouth: 2 spines point down
pectoral 16-17
A 3rd spine not > 2nd
scales smooth

Scorpaena bergii Evermann & Marsh, 1900

Goosehead scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; spine present behind front nostril; adults with a well developed pit on top of head behind eyes, a pair of spines before that pit; eye moderate; a pair of small, branched cirri above eyes; 1st (topmost) preopercular spine the largest; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down and forwards; ridge under eye with 1 spine, at rear; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not on center; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 9.5; anal III, 5, 3rd spine shorter than 2nd; pectoral 16-17, with some upper rays branched in adult, fin reaching 1st anal fin spine; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete; skin flaps on body along lateral line and below it.  

Brown; a large dark blotch on dorsal spines IV-VII; tail fin with dark bars on its base, center and rear edge; pelvics clear, with a dusky tip; anal fin with 3 dark stripes.

Reaches 10 cm.

Turtle grass beds in clear water reefs, including around reefs; mainly at islands.

Depth range: 0-75 m, usually < 7 m.

The Carolinas to the southern Caribbean.

Note: uncertain records in Brazil.

  


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Submerged vegetation
  • Soft bottom only
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Sand & gravel
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Data
  • Carnivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Bony fishes
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • GC endemic
  • Continent
  • All species..
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 10
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 75