Shorefishes - Gallery

deep pits before & behind eye

scarlet + red blotches
all fins: red bars

Scorpaena afuerae, Peruvian scorpionfish

ridge under eye - 3-4 spines

body: no skin flaps

eye large, upper 1/3 with 9 cirri
between eyes - 2 crests separated by deep groove

Scorpaena cocosensis, Cocos scorpionfish

ridge under eye - 1 small spine

lower front body scales well exposed

deep depressions before & after eyes

red brown
body & fins dense dark spots

scales smooth, small, >70 rows

Scorpaena guttata, Spotted scorpionfish, Californian scorpionfish

ridge under eye - usually no spines

shallow pit behind eyes

color variable, mottled
black blotch with yellow flaps over pectoral

Scorpaena histrio, Player scorpionfish, Bandfin scorpionfish

ridge under eye 0-1 spines

body: many skin flaps

deep pits before & behind eye

mottled + white spots
inside pectoral: black blotch, rows white spots

bars on C

Scorpaena mystes, Stone scorpionfish, Pacific spotted scorpionfish

ridge under eye: 3-4 spines

body: many skin flaps

shallow pits before & behind eyes

mottled red/brown
pectoral: black tip
soft D - rows dots

soft D: 3-4 rows brown dots

Scorpaena russula, Short-spine red scorpionfish, Reddish scorpionfish

ridge under eye: 3 small spines

lower front body scales imbedded

between eyes flat

red/brown mottled

soft D: large dark blotch

Scorpaena sonorae, Sonora scorpionfish

ridge under eye: 0-2 small spines

lower front body scales imbedded