Trachyscorpia cristulata echinata (Koehler, 1896) 
Spiny scorpionfish
Trachyscorpia cristulata echinata on the seabed.  Image provided by MARUM, Bremen.

The spiny scorpionfish is found on muddy or sandy bottoms from 200 to over 2,500 m.  They are distributed from Ireland, south to the areas around Madeira and the Canaries (Whitehead et al., 1986b).

Diagnostic features of Trachyscorpia cristulata echinata include a large head and orbit.  They have 12 spines and 8-9 rays.  Colouration is somewhat dusky.  Size generally ranges to 30 cm altough occaisionally specimens up to 50 cm have been recorded   (Whitehead et al., 1986b).

Trachyscorpia cristulata echinata were recorded from the Theresa Mounds in the northern Porcupine Seabight and Rockall areas during the Caracole cruise of August 2001.

The spiny scorpionfish is a member of the family Sebastidae, which appear to be becoming an increasingly valuable commercial fish.

There is more information available on this species in FishBase.

 

 

 

Prepared by: Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd www.ecoserve.ie