Scorpaena mystes Jordan & Starks, 1895
Scorpaena mystes
photo by Lavan, J.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  45.7 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: California, USA (Ref. 28023) to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found in shallow water and seaweed-covered reefs as well as on open, sandy areas (Ref. 5592). An opportunistic predator, this cryptic fish lies unseen on the reef top waiting for small fishes to pass by (Ref. 5592). Although the flesh is of excellent quality, it is not utilized commercially due to its venomous spines (Ref. 9341).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.