Reef scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes caribbaeus)

Scientific name: Scorpaenodes caribbaeus Meek & Hildebrand, 1928

The Reef scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes caribbaeus) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Florida, USA and Bahamas to Panama and northern South America. Antilles, western and southern Caribbean.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Has conspicuous dark spot on rear dorsal fin spines. Without occipital pit. Palatine teeth absent; no preorbital spines; suborbital ridge with 4 or 5 spinous points.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Scorpaenodes caribbaeus
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 12.0
Depth range: 18 m (59 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 18 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Bahamas to Panama and northern South America. Antilles, western and southern Caribbean.
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