THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

132 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Diet: A voracious nocturnal predator of small
fishes, shrimp and crabs. Corners and traps
prey with its widespread pectoral fins.
Reproduction and Development: Courtship
in this species begins at twilight, initiated by
the male. Usually solitary males congregate
and often compete, sometimes intimitating
competitors by charging with spines erect
and forward facing. The female extrudes her
2,000–15,000 her eggs in tubes of mucus in
a gelatinous mass. Shortly after her eggs are
released, the tubes are engorged with seawater
and penetrated by sperm. Eggs float on
the surface and hatch to larvae 36–48 hours
after fertilization.
Mortality/Longevity: Despite their venomous
spines, lionfish are caught by humans for
food.
Remarks: Venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic
fin spines are capable of inflicting severe and
painful wounds. Doctors suggest soaking the
afflicted area in very hot water to denature
the venom’s proteins.
Some years ago, a red lionfish consumed its
close relative, a zebra turkeyfish (Dendrochris
zebra), in captivity at the Steinhart Aquarium.
Eschmeyer’s Scorpionfish
Rhinopias eschmeyeri (Scorpaenidae)
Scorpionfishes and Rockfishes
Distribution: Indonesia and Western Pacific
Ocean.
Habitat: Sheltered areas with a moderate
current either in a bay or along external or deep
reefs. Is a bottom dweller and lives in caves or
under overhangs in brackish water.
Appearance: Deep, compressed body, concave
snout, high eyes. Dorsal fin is sail-like with one
or two small black spots. Very brightly colored
in yellow, pink, brown, or red with skin flaps
over eyes that aid in camouflage. Dorsal, anal,
and pelvic fin spines bear venom glands. Not
aggressive, but when threatened will erect
dorsal spines.
Diet: Feeds on crustaceans and fishes. Remains
stationary and snaps at prey, rapidly sucking
both water and its intended meal into its large
mouth.
Reproduction and Development: Internal
fertilization; produces a floating gelatinous
mass with imbedded eggs.
Conservation Status: A rare fish but
conservation status unknown.
Remarks: This fish is named after the
Academy’s own William Eschmeyer, Senior
Curator of Ichthyology, a world-renown expert
in stonefishes and other scorpionfishes, and
author of the Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes
in the Peterson guidebook series and The
Catalogue of Fishes, a database of the world’s
28,000+ known fish species and a work of
immense value to systematists and to those
evaluating fish diversity worldwide.
It’s possible our specimen is a different
Rhinopias sp, but why not tell the good story.
California Scorpionfish
Scorpaena guttata (Scorpaenidae)
Scorpionfishes and Their Allies
Distribution: Santa Cruz, California to the Gulf
of California.
Habitat: Tide pools to 183 m, usually at depth
less than 30 m. Typically in rocky areas of bays
and along shore, especially in crevices and
caves. Most active at night.
Appearance: Stocky, large mouth; spiny head
and large fan-shaped pectoral fin. Red to
brown, pale mottled brown spots on body and
fins. Length to 43 cm.
Diet: Small crabs, also shrimp, octopuses and
small fishes.
Reproduction and Development: Migrate extensively
during summer in order to form large
spawning aggregations. Mature at two years
old. Fertilization is internal. Females produce
eggs imbedded in gelatinous walls of hollow
pear-shaped structures, which are transparent
or green. The “balloons” float near the surface
and the eggs hatch in around five days.
Mortality/Longevity: Live to at least 21
years.
Conservation Status: Not on IUCN Red List but
very likely being overexploited as a food fish.
Remarks: Individuals in very deep waters are
darker red.
Dorsal, anal and pelvic fin spines are venomous.
Prized as a food fish.
Pink and Yellow Scorpionfish
Sebastapistes cyanostigma (Scorpaenidae)
Scorpionfishes and Their Allies
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.