Morphology Data of Scorpaena pepo
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Motomura, H., S.G. Poss and K.-T. Shao, 2007
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species has the following combination of characters: 16 pectoral-fin rays; 46-48 longitudinal scales series; embedded cycloid scales covering anteroventral surface of body and pectoral-fin base; lateral line sloping steeply downward above anterior 1/2 of pectoral fin; posterior margin of maxilla extending well beyond a vertical through posterior margin of orbit; well developed median interorbital ridge, its highest portion greater in height than interorbital ridges; a single spine on the lateral surface of lacrimal; anterior lacrimal spine with an

additional spine; posterior lacrimal spine simple; suborbital spines 3, posterior end of 1st suborbital spine base below eye between posterior margins of pupil and orbit; space between upper and lower opercular spines not covered with fleshy skin; supraocular tentacle shorter than pupil diameter,1.7-3.9% (mean 3.1%) of SL in length; no tentacles on the underside of lower jaw; no skin flap on pectoral-fin axil; relatively deep body (depth 36.4-42.6% of SL); head and body when fresh yellowish-orange and with numerous small distinct black spots, averaging about 1/10 body scale diameter in size, scattered on entire head and body (except

for ventral surface of head and body), dorsal, anal and caudal fins, and upper 1/2 of pectoral fin; a large black blotch at the margin of membrane between 6th and 10th or 11th dorsal-fin spines in males (Ref. 75791).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Scorpaena pepo

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales 22 - 23
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 10 - 11
on upper limb 5 - 5
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total 24 - 24

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 12 - 12
Soft-rays total 9 - 9
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 5 - 5

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     
Soft-rays   16 - 16
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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