Scorpaenopsis cotticeps Fowler, 1938
Sculpin scorpionfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  6.29 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 15 - 70 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Japan, Philippines, South China Sea, Queensland (Australia), Seychelles, Somalia, and the Gulf of Aden.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5; Vertebrae: 24-24. With 33-37 vertical scale rows; 4 predorsal scales; a blunt head profile, eye protruded a little from the dorsal contour of head, no hump behind head; 2 spines on lachrymal overlying maxillary (1st spine forward and 2nd spine backward), broad postocular and tympanic spines and many small papillae on head (Ref. 10895). Interorbital ridges elevated posteriorly to join tip of tympanic spines; base of parietal spines not curving into occipital pit; first dorsal spine 1.6-1.9 in second spine (Ref 42181). Description: Characterized by mottled reddish brown color; anterior caudal peduncle often with broad irregular whitish bar; back below middle of dorsal fin sometimes with whitish area; upper opercular spine double; snout 3.4-3.8 in head length; interorbital width 7.0-7.8 in head length; orbit diameter 3.5-4.2 in head length below anterior half of eye is a deep subtriangular pit; depth of body 2.4-2.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits shallow rocky reefs (Ref. 42552); over rubble or rubble and sand bottom (Ref. 42181).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.