Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system

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Species: Scorpaena histrio, Bandfin scorpionfish, Player scorpionfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

shallow pit behind eyes
color variable, mottled
black blotch with yellow flaps over pectoral
ridge under eye 0-1 spines
body: many skin flaps

Scorpaena histrio Jenyns, 1840

Player scorpionfish, Bandfin scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines, less broad than deep; shallow pit behind eyes;  longitudinal ridge under eye with 0-1 spines; 5 well developed preopercular spines, top spine the longest; roof of mouth with teeth on sides; no slit behind last gill arch; numerous skin flaps on head and body; dorsal rays XII, 10; anal rays III, 5; pectoral rays 19-20, the lower rays unbranched and thickened; scales relatively large, smooth on body; lateral line complete; with tubes on scales; 24-26 lateral line scales, 43-54 vertical rows.

Color highly variable, generally strongly mottled brown to reddish;  a blackish to dark brown blotch on lateral line above middle of pectoral fin, often with red or orange skin flaps within this blotch.

Reaches  27.3 cm.

Inhabits crevices and ledges of weed-covered rocky reefs.

Depth: 5-200 m.

Central Baja and the lower 2/3 Gulf of California to Chile, and all the oceanic islands except Clipperton.

  


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom only
Habitat
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Reef only
  • Rocks
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • No Data
Diet
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Bony fishes
  • No Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Pelagic
  • No data
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • East Pacific endemic
  • All species
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • All species
  • Continent
  • TEP endemic
  • Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
  • Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
  • South Temperate (Peruvian Province )
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
  • North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 27.3
Depth Range Min
  • 5
Depth Range Max
  • 200