Large-headed scorpionfish (Pontinus macrocephalus)

Scientific name: Pontinus macrocephalus Sauvage, 1882

The Large-headed scorpionfish (Pontinus macrocephalus) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Western Pacific, southern Japan to Micronesia and the Hawaiian Islands. Reported from Malaysia and from Bali Strait to Timor Sea in Indonesia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Pectoral rays unbranched in adults; with about 45-60 vertical scale rows; lachrymal bone with 2 spines over maxillary, first points out and back, second points mostly back; suborbital ridge with 3 or 4 spines; second preopercular spine usually absent in large specimens; color in life mostly red.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pontinus macrocephalus
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 36.5
Depth range: 174–278 m (571–912 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 174 - 278 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: southern Japan to Micronesia and the Hawaiian Islands. Reported from Malaysia and from Bali Strait to Timor Sea in Indonesia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 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