Speckled scorpionfish (Pontinus sierra)

Scientific name: Pontinus sierra Gilbert, 1890

The Speckled scorpionfish (Pontinus sierra) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, Gulf of California to Panama. Distributional range extends to Peru.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6; Vertebrae: 24. Branchiostegal rays: 7.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pontinus sierra
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 28.0
Common length: 20.0
Depth range: 250 m (820 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 250 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Central Pacific: Gulf of California to Panama. Distributional range extends to Peru.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 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