Scientific Name
Scorpaena porcus

Common Name
Black scorpionfish

Biology
Solitary and sedentary. Common among rocks and algae. Feeds on small fishes (gobies, blennies), crustaceans and other invertebrates (Ref. 4570).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: British Isles to the Azores, and the Canary Islands, including Morocco, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

Range

55°N - 25°N, 32°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

800 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range ? - 800 m (Ref. 4570)

Trophic Level

3.93 s.e. 0.65 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

37.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.16-0.17; tm=2-3; tmax=10)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated