California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata)

Scientific name: Scorpaena guttata Girard, 1854

The California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Santa Cruz in central California, USA to Punta Abreojos, Baja California; including northern Gulf of California and Guadalupe Island in Mexico.

Biology

Usually occurs in rocky areas of bays and along shore, especially in caves and crevices. An excellent food fish. Venomous spines in the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins (Ref 13513).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Scorpaena guttata
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 43.0
Depth range: 183 m (600 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 183 m, usually ? - 30 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Santa Cruz in central California, USA to Punta Abreojos, Baja California; including northern Gulf of California and Guadalupe Island in Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN): Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans: Venomous
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.12-0.3; tmax = 21; tm = 2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026