Scientific Name
Scorpaenopsis gilchristi

Common Name
Gilchrist's scorpionfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. With united pores at symphysis of the lower jaw, lachrymal with 5 spines and 2 predorsal scales (Ref. 10895). Suborbital ridge directly below eye; no suborbital pit; pores at symphysis of lower jaw open medially to a deep midventral pit (Ref 42181).

Classification

Classified By

Smith, 1957

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: off the Tugela River, Natal, South Africa.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

26 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 26 m (Ref. 4313)

Trophic Level

3.51 s.e. 0.61 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

6.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (22 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated