Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system

Español  Contact

Species: Scorpaena russula, Reddish scorpionfish, Short-spine red scorpionfish

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

shallow pits before & behind eyes
mottled red/brown
pectoral: black tip
soft D - rows dots
soft D: 3-4 rows brown dots
ridge under eye: 3 small spines
lower front body scales imbedded

Scorpaena russula Jordan & Bollman, 1890

Reddish scorpionfish, Short-spine red scorpionfish

Body relatively slender, depth 30-33% of SL; head very bony, with numerous spines; snout relatively short, 7-11% of SL; narrow between eyes (width ~ 4% of SL); no ridges or weak ridges between eyes; between eyes flat, covered with many small cirri and usually with large tentacles on rear base of spine above rear of eye; pit behind eyes a slight depression with a front edge, with many cirri; longitudinal ridge under eye with 2-3 small spines; top preopercular spine the longest, 2nd  spine very reduced; roof of mouth with teeth on sides; no slit behind last gill arch; no skin flaps on body; dorsal rays XII, 9; anal rays III, 5; pectoral rays 20-22, the lower 14 rays unbranched and thickened; scales relatively large, smooth on body; lateral line complete; with tubes on scales; 24-25 lateral line scales, 43-49 vertical rows; scales on lower front body imbedded, not well exposed.

Mottled red and brown; pectoral fins with blackish tip; 3-4 irregular rows of small spots on soft dorsal.

Reported to at least 13 cm.

Inhabits sand-rubble bottoms.

Depth: 7-160 m.

Southern Baja and the Gulf of California to northern Peru, Cocos and Malpelo.


High Resolution Map Download

Species Data Create Report Export as Word File Export as Excel File
Salinity
  • Brackish
  • Marine
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom only
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • No Data
  • Carnivore
Diet
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Bony fishes
  • No Data
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
Egg Type
  • No data
  • Pelagic larva
  • Pelagic
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • East Pacific endemic
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
Regional Endemism
  • TEP endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • South Temperate (Peruvian Province )
  • Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
  • North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
  • Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 13
Depth Range Min
  • 7
Depth Range Max
  • 160