Scientific Name
Pontinus furcirhinus

Common Name
Red scorpionfish

Biology
Body and head slightly compressed; body depth contained 2.9 times in standard length; eyes large, their diameter greater than snout length; inter-orbital space narrow, usually less than half eye diameter; tip of maxilla reaching posterior rim of the eye; third dorsal spine prolonged and straight; pectoral fins with 17 rays; medium sized ctenoid scales; lateral scales fewer 60; body uniformly reddish with small, irregular, brown or olive green spots on the dorsal region (Ref. 55763).

Classification

Classified By

Garman, 1899

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico to Peru.

Range

25°N -

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

300 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range ? - 300 m (Ref. 55763)

Trophic Level

3.34 s.e. 0.00 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

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

27.0 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:

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 57406)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)