Scorpaenopsis ramaraoi Randall & Eschmeyer, 2002
Rama Rao's scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis ramaraoi
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae
Max. size:  20.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 60 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Pakistan and Sri Lanka to New Britain, Papua New Guinea (Ref. 42181).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Distinct median interorbital ridge. No extra spine anterior to each tympanic spine; occipital pit shallow, not quadrangular. Ridge above anterior lacrimal spine with a pointed tip. Upper opercular spine single, narrow and without a median ridge. Space between opercular spines without ridges. Supraocular tentacle well-developed. Longitudinal scale series 45-49 (Ref 42181). Description: Characterized by dark reddish to brownish grey color, mottled with dark brown; four spines in suborbital ridge; snout 3.2-3.5 in head length; interorbital width 6.4-7.9 in head length; absence of coronal spines; depth of body 2.6-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Collected from both silty sand and rocky bottom; also from areas with coral (Ref. 42181). Inhabits rock or coral bottoms in 1-60 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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