Scorpaena papillosa

This species has numerous common names, including:

• Chained scorpionfish[4]
• Common red gurnard
• Common red rock cod
• Dwarf scorpionfish
• Red rock cod
• Red scorpionfish
• Southern red scorpioncod
• Southern red scorpionfish[5][6]
• Southern rockcod[7]

Scorpaena papillosa grows to a maximum length of approximately 30 cm. Its large mouth contains small, thin teeth that form velvety bands (villiform). It has 12 dorsal spines, 9 to 10 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, 5 anal soft rays, a small row of spines beneath the eyes, and a gill cover margin containing 3 spines.[3]

This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific, in New Zealand and southern Australia.[3]

Scorpaena papillosa lives in marine, demersal, temperate waters, at depths of 5–50 metres (16–164 ft).[4][3] It can be found on rocky bottoms, in shallow estuaries, in muddy waters as well as other environments, such as in offshore kelp beds and shallow seagrass beds. Juveniles of this species are sometimes found in large rock pools.[3]

This fish feeds on many different invertebrates, including crustaceans. It also eats other fish.[8]

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