Scorpaena guttata

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Scorpaena guttata
Scorpaena guttata.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Scorpaena
Species:
S. guttata
Binomial name
Scorpaena guttata
Girard, 1854
Synonyms [2]
  • Scorpaena guadalupae Fowler, 1944
  • Scorpaena microlepis Gunter, 1948

Scorpaena guttata is a species of fish in the scorpionfish family known by the common name California scorpionfish. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, where it can be found along the coast of California and Baja California. Its distribution extends from around Santa Cruz, California, to Punta Abreojos in Baja California Sur, and out to Guadalupe Island. It is also found in the Gulf of California. [2] Another common name is spotted scorpionfish. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

Scorpaena guttata was first formally described in 1854 by the French biologist Charles Frédéric Girard with the type locality given as Monterey, California. [4] The specific name guttata means "spotted", an allusion to the many small black spots on the head and body and the larger black spots on the fins. [5]

Description

This fish reaches up to 43 to 47 cm (17 to 19 in) in length. [2] It is reddish brown in color with many brown and black spots, especially on the fins. The head is spiny. [3] It does not have a swim bladder; it spends most of its time on the ocean floor. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Scorpaena guttata is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it occurs from Santa Cruz in central California [2] south along the coast of Baja California to Todos Santos, Baja California Sur with a small isolated population reportedly resident in the northern Sea of Cortez. [7]

This is a demersal marine fish which may venture to ocean depths up to 183 metres (600 ft), but it is usually in shallower waters, up to about 30 metres (98 ft). It is found along rocky bottoms just offshore or in bays. It inhabits underwater caves. [1] It does not necessarily stay in one territory; mark and recapture experiments observed individuals traveling up to 200 kilometres (120 mi), with one moving from near Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands to Long Beach over the course of about 14 months. Another fish traveled at a speed of about 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) per day. [8]

Biology

Its maximum recorded life span is 21 years. [2]

The diet of this carnivorous fish includes other fish, crustaceans, octopi, squid, and cuttlefish. [1] Juvenile crabs are strongly favored, especially during fall and winter, when they make up the bulk of the diet. The juvenile yellow rock crab (Metacarcinus anthonyi) is a very common prey. Another common crustacean prey item is the ridgeback prawn (Sicyonia ingentis). Fish species consumed include Californian anchovy (Engraulis mordax) and spotted cusk-eel (Chilara taylori). [9]

The fish may return to the same spawning grounds each breeding season. [9] When it spawns it produces an elastic, gelatinous, balloon-like mass about 25 centimeters long. The eggs are encased in one internal layer of the mass. The mass floats on the ocean surface. Initially colorless and transparent, the mass eventually turns cloudy white as it floats. Each egg is just over a millimeter long. [10] Spawning likely takes place around dawn; the fish has been observed congregating daily at this time at the surface of the water during the breeding season. Mating is polygamous. [9]

Toxicity

Like many other scorpionfish, this species has venom in its spines. Once called "one of the most noxious marine animals in California waters," [11] this fish has been responsible for many human injuries. Fishermen are often affected when trying to remove the fish from the hook; when pulled from the water, the fish flares the spines on its fins and gill covers, making it difficult to handle. The spines themselves are sharp enough to inflict wounds, but the venom can cause a number of additional symptoms. The effects of the sting are said to feel much like those of a rattlesnake bite. A spine prick to the finger was reported to cause a severe, throbbing pain and cyanosis of the digit, which became swollen and hard, then hot and red, then numb. Pain traveled up the arm to the axilla, which developed painful masses. Systemic symptoms included nausea and a feeling of faintness, and the skin was cool, clammy, and pale. In two weeks the victim had recovered. [11] Another victim developed pericarditis from an envenomation. [12]

Each spine has two longitudinal grooves which are filled with epithelial tissue that contains venom-secreting glands. The spine is sheathed in a thin membrane. As the spine enters the victim, the membrane sheath is pushed back, helping to inject the venom into the victim. [11] [13]

The venom is cardiotoxic, in laboratory studies producing fluctuations in blood pressure and EKG changes such as ventricular tachycardia and bundle branch block. [13]

Ecology

This fish species is host to a number of parasites, such as the copepods Bomolochus spinulus , Lepeophtheirus rotundipes , Naobranchia scorpaenae , Pseudodiocus scorpaenus , Hamaticolax spinulus , and Chondracanthus gracilis . [14]

Predators of the fish include the California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculatus), which is apparently rarely injured by the spines because its flesh is so pliable. On the other hand, the fish will eat small individuals of this octopus, as well. [6]

Conservation

Sport fishing puts some pressure on this species, [1] as it is considered to be a very good food fish once the spines have been avoided. [2] There is a small commercial fishery, as well. The catch is sold to fish processors and to the public; it is sought after in some Asian communities in Southern California. The fish is caught by angling, gillnetting, and otter trawling. [9] The extent of the impact of fishing on populations is unknown. [1]

There are no major threats. The populations off of Southern California apparently undergo short-term fluctuations in size, and it is considered to be a rare species overall along the California coast. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpaenidae</span> Family of fishes

The Scorpaenidae are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas but mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. They should not be confused with the cabezones, of the genus Scorpaenichthys, which belong to a separate, though related, family, Cottidae.

<i>Scorpaena cardinalis</i> Species of fish

Scorpaena cardinalis, the eastern red scorpionfish, grandfather hapuku, cardinal scorpionfish, Cook's scorpionfish, Cook's rockcod, Kermadec scorpionfish, Northern scorpionfish, red scorpion fish, red scorpion-cod or Sandy-bay cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Scorpaena</i> Genus of fishes

Scorpaena is a widespread genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes.

<i>Pterois antennata</i> Species of fish

Pterois antennata, the spotfin lionfish, banded lionfish, broadbarred lionfish, broadbarred firefish, raggedfinned firefish, raggedfinned scorpionfish or roughscaled lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the tropical Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-spotted spinefoot</span> Species of fish

The orange-spotted spinefoot, also known as the deepbody spinefoot, gold-saddle rabbitfish, golden rabbitfish, golden-spotted spinefoot, goldlined spinefoot or yellowblotch spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Sebastapistes cyanostigma</i> Species of fish

Sebastapistes cyanostigma, the yellowspotted scorpionfish', coral scorpionfish or pink and yellow scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to 10 cm in length.

<i>Scorpaena afuerae</i> Species of fish

Scorpaena afuerae, the Peruvian scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Scorpaena sumptuosa, the western red scorpionfish, western red rockcod, western red scorpioncod or western scorpionfish, is a venomous species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starry rockfish</span> Species of fish

The starry rockfish, also known as the spotted corsair, spotted rockfish, chinafish, and red rock cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

The false scorpionfish, also known as prettyfins, is a species of perciform fish, the only species in genus Centrogenys, which in turn is the only genus in the family Centrogenyidae. They are pale grey or brown and usually grow no longer than 25 cm (9.8 in). False scorpionfish are distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific, bounded by the Ryukyu Islands of Japan to the north and Australia to the south, the Nicobar Islands to the west and New Guinea to the east.

Scorpaena azorica, the Azores scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This fish occurs in the Northeastern Atlantic region in European waters. This fish is found in demersal and marine environments in subtropical waters, generally on hard bottoms. The maximum recorded length is 9.8 centimetres (3.9 in).

<i>Scorpaena scrofa</i> Species of fish

Scorpaena scrofa, the red scorpionfish, bigscale scorpionfish, large-scaled scorpion fish, or rascasse is a venomous marine species of ray-finned fish in the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the western Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small red scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

Small red scorpionfish is a venomous Scorpionfish, common in marine subtropical waters. It is widespread in the Eastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to Senegal, Madeira, Azores and the Canary Islands, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

<i>Pontinus furcirhinus</i> Species of fish

Pontinus furcirhinus, one of a number of species known as the "red scorpionfish", is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Helicolenus dactylopterus</i> Species of fish

Helicolenus dactylopterus, blackbelly rosefish, bluemouth rockfish, and bluemouth seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae which is classified within the family Scorpaenidae. This Atlantic species is a typical sit-and-wait predator with a highly cryptic coloration.

<i>Minous monodactylus</i> Species of fish

Minous monodactylus, the grey stingfish or grey goblinfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fishes, it is the only genus in the tribe Minoini, one of the three tribes which are classified within the subfamily Synanceiinae within the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. This species found in the Indo-Pacific and is venomous to humans.

<i>Octopus bimaculatus</i> Species of octopus

Octopus bimaculatus, commonly referred to as Verill's two-spot octopus, is a similar species to the Octopus bimaculoides, a species it is often mistaken for. The two can be distinguished by the difference in the blue and black chain-like pattern of the ocelli. O. bimaculatus hunt and feed on a diverse number of benthic organisms that also reside off the coast of Southern California. Once the octopus reaches sexual maturity, it shortly dies after mating, which is approximately 12–18 months after hatching. Embryonic development tends to be rapid due to this short lifespan of these organisms.

<i>Scorpaena brasiliensis</i> Species of fish

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<i>Scorpaena jacksoniensis</i> Species of fish

Scorpaena jacksoniensis, the Eastern red scorpionfish, Billy Bougain, cardinal scorpionfish, coral cod, coral perch, Eastern red scorpioncod, fire cod, Northern scorpionfish, ocean perch, prickly heat, red rockcod or red scorpion-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the south western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humpbacked scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

The humpbacked scorpionfish is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eschmeyer, W.; Alvarado, J. (2010). "Scorpaena guttata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T183715A8163197. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183715A8163197.en . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Scorpaena guttuta" in FishBase. August 2021 version.
  3. 1 2 "Species: Scorpaena guttata, Californian scorpionfish, Spotted scorpionfish". Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Scorpaena". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 Taylor, P. B. and L. Chen (1969). "The predator-prey relationship between the octopus (Octopus bimaculatus) and the California scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata)" (PDF). Pacific Science. 23 (3): 311–16.
  7. ↑ "California Scorpionfish". Mexican Fish. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ↑ Hanan, D. A. and B. E. Curry (2012). "Long-term movement patterns and habitat use of nearshore groundfish: Tag-recapture in Central and Southern California waters". The Open Fish Science Journal. 5: 30–43. doi:10.2174/1874401X01205010030.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Milton S. Love; Brota Axell; Pamela Morris; Robson Collins; and Andrew Brooks (1987). "Life History and Fishery of the California Scorpionfish Scorpaeana guttata" (PDF). Fishery Bulletin. 86 (1): 99–116.
  10. ↑ Orton, G. L. (1955). "Early developmental stages of the California scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata". Copeia. 1955 (3): 210–14. doi:10.2307/1440463. JSTOR   1440463.
  11. 1 2 3 Halstead, B. W. (1951). "Injurious effects from the sting of the scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata, with report of a case". California Medicine. 74 (5): 395–96. PMC   1520702 . PMID   14848700.
  12. ↑ D.Abdun-Nur; S.Marcus; F.E.Russell (1981). "Pericarditis associated with scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata) sting". Toxicon. 19 (4): 579–81. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(81)90019-2. PMID   7330893.
  13. 1 2 Mariscal, R., ed. (1974). Experimental Marine Biology. Elsevier Science. p. 275.
  14. ↑ Nicolas Bailly (2008). "Scorpaena guttata Girard, 1854". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
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