Scorpion fish

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Scorpion fish
Great red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa)

Great red scorpionfish ( Scorpaena scrofa )

Systematics
Acanthomorphata
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Perch-like (Perciformes)
Subordination : Scorpionfish relatives (Scorpaenoidei)
Family : Scorpion fish
Scientific name
Scorpaenidae
Risso , 1826

The scorpion fish (Scorpaenidae) are a fish family from the subordination of the Drachenkopf relatives (Scorpaenoidei). It includes over 20 genera and approx. 220 species . Most species live in rocky or coral reefs , a few on soft ocean floors or in the open sea. All scorpion fish are poor swimmers and tend to hang out on the bottom. Startled, however, they can accelerate very quickly for a few meters. They feed predatory, but do not hunt actively, but lie in wait for their prey, well camouflaged. It is sucked in by opening the mouth at lightning speed.

features

Scorpion fish are stocky, large-headed fish. Their body is usually reddish or brownish in color and camouflaged with irregular spots, marbling and skin protrusions. Depending on the species, they are between three centimeters and half a meter long. The pectoral fins are large and some are strikingly colorful. They are used to warn predators.

Scorpion fish are actively poisonous fish. Depending on the species 13 to 18, the front hard fin rays of the dorsal fin , usually the first three of the anal fin and the foremost of each ventral fin , are poisonous . Each of these fin rays has a poisonous furrow to the right and left of the leading edge, which is provided with poison glands and covered with skin. When stabbed, the skin tears open and the poison penetrates into the wound. The scorpion fish also have spines on their gill covers, which can cause bloody wounds, but are not poisonous.

Poison

The poison of the scorpion fish is a mixture, which mainly consists of different proteins . It causes a rapid drop in blood pressure , pulmonary edema , but it can also cause blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries to rise. The body's own substances that cause muscle cramps may also be released, such as B. acetylcholine . The poison causes tissue swelling in the area of ​​the puncture and severe pain, which intensifies in the hours after the puncture and can last for several days. In contrast to poisoning by stone fish (Synanceiidae), however, no deaths from scorpion fish stings are known.

nutrition

All scorpion fish live carnivorously on smaller fish, cephalopods and crustaceans . They are usually lazy lurker hunters who do not actively pursue their prey, but wait until the victim is within reach and then suck it in by suddenly opening their big mouth.

Internal system

Cladogram of the Scorpaenidae and their relatives:



 Neosebastidae


   

 Plectrogeniidae



  Scorpaenidae  



 Fur clumps ( Caracanthus )


   

 Scorpaena



   

 Scorpaenopsis


   

 Pteroidichthys


   

 Schaukelfisch ( Taenianotus )





   


 Scorpaenodes


   

 Lionfish (Pteroinae)



   

 Setarchinae


   

 Pontine


   

 Rock perch (Sebastinae)







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The scorpion fish are divided into two subfamilies : the actual scorpion fish ( Scorpaeninae) and the lionfish (Pteroinae). The fur clumps ( Caracanthus ) are often seen as a separate family, but phylogenetically belong to the scorpion fish. Scorpion fish are often very difficult to distinguish from one another. The genera are differentiated according to the dentition of the upper jaw, the species according to the number and type of fin spines, the bribing of the head and on the basis of rows of scales and the proportional size.

evolution

Fossil from Scorpaena prior from St. Margarethen, Natural History Museum Vienna

The tribal history of the scorpion fish is not well passed. A fossil species is Scorpaena prior from the Miocene of Sankt Margarethen in Burgenland in Austria.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Smith, WL, Everman, E. & Richardson, C. (2018): Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Flatheads, Scorpionfishes, Sea Robins, and Stonefishes (Percomorpha: Scorpaeniformes) and the Evolution of the Lachrymal Saber. Copeia 106 (1): 94-119. 2018 doi: 10.1643 / CG-17-669
  2. ^ Karl Albert Frickhinger: Fossil Atlas Fish , Mergus-Verlag, Melle, 1999, ISBN 3-88244-018-X

Web links

Commons : Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files