Black scorpionfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black scorpionfish |
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The black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the European scorpionfish or small-scaled scorpionfish. This fish has venom, which means it can sting! You can find it in warm ocean waters, especially in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, near places like the British Isles, Azores, and Canary Islands. It also lives in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
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About the Black Scorpionfish
Who Named This Fish?
The black scorpionfish was first officially described in 1758. A famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in his book Systema Naturae. Linnaeus also named the group, or genus, that this fish belongs to, which is Scorpaena.
The name porcus means "pig" in Latin. We don't know why Linnaeus chose this name. Some people think it might be because of an old belief that this fish ate algae or mud.
What Does the Black Scorpionfish Look Like?
The black scorpionfish can grow up to about 37 centimeters (about 14.5 inches) long. But most adult fish are around 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long.
Its head is wide with a short nose and a mouth that points upwards. It has a short tentacle above each eye. There are also other small tentacles, spines, and skin flaps on its head.
Its top fin, called the dorsal fin, has twelve sharp spines and nine soft rays. The fin underneath, called the anal fin, has two spines and six soft rays. Its side fins, called pectoral fins, are large and oval.
This fish is usually brownish in color. It has a dark spot on its dorsal fin. Its fins are mottled with brown, and its tail fin has three brown stripes.
Where Does the Black Scorpionfish Live?
The black scorpionfish lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. You can find it from the southern part of the British Isles all the way down to the Azores, the Canary Islands, and the northwest coast of Africa. It lives in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This fish can be found in waters as deep as 800 meters (about 2,600 feet)!
How Does the Black Scorpionfish Live?
The black scorpionfish usually stays close to the bottom of the ocean. It likes to rest among seaweed and on rocks. This fish usually lives alone.
It eats small fish like blennies and gobies. It also eats crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp) and other small animals that live on the ocean floor. We don't know much about how they reproduce.
Sometimes, a marine leech called Pontobdella muricata will attach itself to the black scorpionfish. The leech uses the fish as a place to live and feed.
