Hunchback scorpionfish (Scorpaena dispar)

Scientific name: Scorpaena dispar Longley & Hildebrand, 1940

The Hunchback scorpionfish (Scorpaena dispar) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Florida and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Brazil.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Occipital pit present; adults with three to four spines on part of preorbital overlapping maxillary; supplemental preopercular spine present; no dark spots on inner basal part of pectoral fin; generally pale in color with some dark pigments.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Scorpaena dispar
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 23.0
Depth range: 36–118 m (118–387 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 36 - 118 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Florida and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026