Scorpionfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scorpionfish |
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| Scorpaenopsis oxycephala | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Scorpaenoidei |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae A. Risso, 1826 |
| Type species | |
| Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758
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The Scorpaenidae, also known as scorpionfish, are a family of fish that live mostly in the ocean. They are known for being some of the most venomous fish in the world. Just like their name, scorpionfish have a "sting." This comes from sharp spines covered in a special venomous slime.
There are hundreds of different types of scorpionfish. They are part of a larger group called "ray-finned fish," which means their fins are supported by bony rays. You can find them in warm and mild oceans all over the world, but most live in the Indo-Pacific region (like the Indian and Pacific Oceans). It's important not to confuse them with cabezones, which are a different but related family of fish.
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Types of Scorpionfish
Some types of scorpionfish, like the lionfish, are very beautiful but also dangerous. Because they are so striking, people often want them for aquariums. Besides "scorpionfish," these fish are also called by other names such as firefish, turkeyfish, dragonfish, and stingfish.
What Do Scorpionfish Look Like?
Scorpionfish have a body that is a bit flat from side to side. They often have ridges or spines on their heads. They also have one or two spines on their gill covers and three to five spines on a bone near their gills.
Their dorsal fin (the one on their back) has 11 to 17 sharp spines. These spines are often long and can be spaced out from each other. Their pectoral fins (the ones on their sides) are usually large and have 11 to 25 soft rays. The spines on their dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins all have venom glands at their bases. This is where their "sting" comes from.
Where Do Scorpionfish Live and What Do They Eat?
Most scorpionfish live on the ocean floor. They eat crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp) and smaller fish. Many of them live in shallow waters, but some can be found as deep as 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet).
Most scorpionfish, like the stonefish, are masters of disguise. They hide and wait for their prey to swim by before quickly attacking. Lionfish, on the other hand, often ambush their prey. Sometimes, lionfish will even work together to herd fish, shrimp, or crabs into a corner before swallowing them. Like many fish, scorpionfish are "suction feeders." This means they quickly open their mouths to create a strong suction, pulling their prey inside.
Scorpionfish Families
The large family of Scorpaenidae is made up of smaller groups. These include the Scorpaeninae (which are the true scorpionfishes), the Sebastinae (also known as rockfishes), and the Pteroinae (which include lionfishes and turkeyfishes). The beautiful lionfish that people keep in aquariums belongs to the Pteroinae group.
Scientists are still working to fully understand how all the different types of scorpionfish are related. One major book, Fishes of the World, lists 10 smaller groups with a total of 388 species. However, as of 2018, FishBase (another important scientific database) follows the work of William N. Eschmeyer and lists three smaller groups, 25 genera (types), and 222 species.
See also
In Spanish: Escorpiones y rocotes para niños
