Spotfin scorpionfish (Sebastapistes ballieui)

Scientific name: Sebastapistes ballieui Sauvage, 1875

The Spotfin scorpionfish (Sebastapistes ballieui) is a marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, known only from the Hawaiian Islands. Recently been reported from Midway Islands.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Coronal spines present; virtually no occipital pit; about 40-45 vertical scale rows; lachrymal bone with 3 spines over maxillary, posterior 2 close set and pointing down and to rear, first points mostly forward; suborbital ridge with one spine at posterior end of ridge.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sebastapistes ballieui
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 11.7
Depth range: 1–11 m (3–36 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 11 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Central Pacific: known only from the Hawaiian Islands. Recently been reported from Midway Islands.
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