Scorpionfishes: fishes of the family Scorpaenidae

Scorpaenid fishes are widely distributed in terms of both latitude and depth. They inhabit tropical to boreal seas. As well they range from scuba diving depths to much deeper. As suggested by the name scorpionfish, many have venomous spines. Additional images of Sebastes species also known as rockfishes are presented in a separate gallery

Lionfish
Lionfish (Pterois volitans) at Siaes Corner, Koror, Republic of Palau.
Chordata Palau PalauMarine PalauUnderwater PhylumChordata UnderwaterPalau Vertebrate chordate Actinopterygii Animal Biology Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Lionfish Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Pterois volitans Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Siaes Corner dive site Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei biological living organism underwater www.salmonography.com
Leaf Scorpionfish
Leaf Scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) photographed while scuba diving off Maui, Hawaii.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaii Infraclass Teleostei Leaf Scorpionfish Maui Maui County Maui dive site Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Taenianotus triacanthus Tank and LST Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Devil Scorpionfish waiting to ambush prey
Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopisis diabolus) waiting to ambush prey
Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Devil Scorpionfish Ecology Hawaii Hawaii Island Infraclass Teleostei Kona Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenopsis diabolus Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Hawaiian Turkeyfish
Hawaiian Turkeyfish (Pterois sphex), a Hawaiian endemic, belongs to the same genus as the Lionfish (P. volitans) that is an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean. This specimen was photographed alongside conspecifics that were wedged in close to a ledge while the photographer was scuba diving the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Ecology Hawaiian Turkeyfish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Pterois sphex Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Hawaiian Turkeyfish
Hawaiian Turkeyfish (Pterois sphex) congregated under a ledge off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Ecology Hawaiian Turkeyfish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Pterois sphex Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Well-camouflaged Devil Scorpionfish
Well-camouflaged Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) resting on algae-covered dead coral off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Devil Scorpionfish Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Lone Tree Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenopsis diabolus Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere camouflage chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Well-camouflaged Devil Scorpionfish
Well-camouflaged Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) resting on algae-covered dead coral off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Devil Scorpionfish Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Lone Tree Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenopsis diabolus Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Tiger Rockfish
Tiger Rockfish (Sebastes nigrocinctus), an inhabitant of rocky reef and boulder habitat of the northeast Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California, can reach an age of more than 100 years. This photograph was taken while scuba diving in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Sebastes nigrocinctus Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Tiger Rockfish Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
Quillback Rockfish
Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger), which are distrbuted along the Pacific coast from Alaska to California, are named for their long and venomous dorsal fin spines.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada Chordata Chup Point Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Quillback Rockfish Rendezvous Dive Adventures Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam Seacam underwater housing Sebastes maliger Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Tyler Rock Vancouver Island Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
Vermillion Rockfish
Vermillion Rockfish, Sebastes miniatus. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Sebastes miniatus Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vermillion Rockfish Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
Canary Rockfish
Canary Rockfish, Sebastes pinniger. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada Canary Rockfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Sebastes pinniger Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
China Rockfish
The China Rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus), is one of more than 60 congeners distributed along the Pacific coast of North America. The China Rockfish is a territorial shallow water demersal species. This specimen was photographed while scuba diving in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada China Rockfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Sebastes nebulosus Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
Copper Rockfish
Copper Rockfish (Sebastes caurinus.) is a shallow demersal (about 10 to 200m or 30 to 600 ft depth) species that ranges from Alaska to Baja California. They can be a half century old. This photograph was taken with a Nikon D2X camera in a Seacam underwater housing while scuba diving in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Actinopterygii Animal Barkley Sound Biology British Columbia Canada Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper Rockfish Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Rendezvous Dive Adventures Seacam underwater housing Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam Sebastes caurinus Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vancouver Island Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild www.salmonography.com
Devil Scorpionfish
A Devil Scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) near Maui Island, Hawaii. Aspect Ratio = 2:3.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dangerous marine animal Devil Scorpionfish Ecology Hawaii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenopsis diabolus Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Venomous Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate dangerous deadly detrimental fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild
Hawaiian Lionfish
A Hawaiian Lionfish (Dendrochirus barberi), a Hawaiian endemic, perched on antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) at Maui Island, Hawaii. Aspect ratio = 2:3.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Actinopterygii Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Dangerous marine animal Dendrochirus barberi Ecology Hawaii Hawaiian Lionfish Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Scorpaenidae Scorpaeniformes Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Venomous Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate dangerous deadly detrimental endemic fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous fish wild