Red Scorpionfish [Scorpaena scrofa]
Description
The Red Scorpionfish, also known as the Bigscale Scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a scorpionfish from the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean where it is an uncommon species. It is a demersal species which has a preference for rocky substrates and is found at depths between 15 and 200 meters. It has a robust body with a large head and a mouth which extends back as far as the eyes. It is a predator which feeds on other fishes and crustaceans, using its venomous spines for both attack and defense.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Fish
Actinopterygii
|
| Order |
Scorpionfishes and Flatheads
Scorpaeniformes
|
| Family |
Scorpionfishes
Scorpaenidae
|
| Genus |
Red Scorpionfishes
Pontinus
|