Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Kenya and Mozambique to islands in the western Indian Ocean.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 21.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3503); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. A black spot nearly as large as eye on inner surface of pectoral fins near base of first 5 rays; no black mark inside mouth at front of upper jaw. Ascending process of premaxilla narrow, its maximum width 1.8-2.2 in orbit diameter; a series of papillae or nodules (sometimes on a low ridge) across interorbital space between supraocular spines; nasal spine single (Ref 42181).
Usually found immobile at the bottom camouflaged among rocks and coral. Hunts by ambushing prey (Ref. 5503). Unlike most scorpaenids, the sting from the dorsal spines of this species can be painful but does not pose any real danger to the victim (Ref. 5503). Sold fresh in small quantities in markets.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E and W.N. Eschmeyer, 2001. Revision of the Indo-Pacific scorpionfish genus Scopaenopsis, with descriptions of eight new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (34):79 p. (Ref. 42181)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 5503)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25 - 28.9, mean 27.2 °C (based on 444 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01288 (0.00620 - 0.02676), b=3.03 (2.86 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.73 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 61.9 [32.2, 128.5] mg/100g; Iron = 0.667 [0.347, 1.661] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.1, 20.1] %; Omega3 = 0.232 [0.101, 0.641] g/100g; Selenium = 27 [14, 69] μg/100g; VitaminA = 256 [83, 745] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.19 [0.80, 1.75] mg/100g (wet weight);
