Family ScorpaenidaeScorpionfishes/Rockfishes Selected Characters: Body somewhat compressed; spines in dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; suborbital stay present; spines on opercle and preopercle. This is a large family found in all tropical and temperate seas with a few species entering freshwater. Most are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The largest scorpaenids reach lengths of about 1 meter. There are venom glands associated with the dorsal, anal and pelvic spines. The venom of some tropical species is quite dangerous, but that of local species usually causes only moderate irritation. Most scorpaenids have internal fertilization, and most species in our area (those in the genus Sebastes) are ovoviviparous. Some scorpionfishes (including our Shortspine Thornyhead, Sebastolobus alascanus) are oviparous, laying eggs in a gelatinous balloon. Scorpaenids are major predators of other fishes and are important for sport and commercial fishing industries. There are about 388 species in this family; we have 27 in Puget Sound. This is a common family in the Sound. Puget Sound Species Sebastes aleutianus Rougheye Rockfish Sebastes alutus Pacific Ocean Perch Sebastes auriculatus Brown Rockfish Sebastes babcocki Redbanded Rockfish Sebastes brevispinis Silvergray Rockfish Sebastes caurinus Copper Rockfish Sebastes crameri Darkblotched Rockfish Sebastes diploproa Splitnose Rockfish Sebastes elongatus Greenstriped Rockfish Sebastes emphaeus Puget Sound Rockfish Sebastes entomelas Widow Rockfish Sebastes flavidus Yellowtail Rockfish Sebastes helvomaculatus Rosethorn Rockfish Sebastes maliger Quillback Rockfish Sebastes melanops Black Rockfish Sebastes miniatus Vermilion Rockfish Sebastes mystinus Blue Rockfish Sebastes nebulosus China Rockfish Sebastes nigrocinctus Tiger Rockfish Sebastes paucispinis Bocaccio Sebastes pinniger Canary Rockfish Sebastes proriger Redstripe Rockfish Sebastes rosaceus Rosy Rockfish Sebastes ruberrimus Yelloweye Rockfish Sebastes saxicola Stripetail Rockfish Sebastes zacentrus Sharpchin Rockfish Sebastolobus alascanus Shortspine Thornyhead |