Fish of the Helicolenus genus of the Sebastidae (rockfishes or rock perches) family of the suborder Scorpaenoidei of the Scorpaeniformes order of the Acanthopterygii superorder.
(Blackbelly rosefish. Photo by © Pedro Niny Duarte(c)ImagDOP. fishbase.org)
Blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) was first described in 1809 by the French botanist and ichthyologist François Delaroche (1781-1812).
It inhabits the depth of 50-1,100 meters, usually 150-600 meters. It prefers to swim close to the oozy and sandy bottom. The maximum recorded length is 47 cm; specimens up to 25 cm long are more common. The maximum weight is 1.6 kg. It feeds on crustaceans, fish, cephalopods and echinoderms.
(Blackbelly rosefish. Photo by © Fabio Crocetta. fishbase.org)
It is a permanent rare inhabitant of the southern part of the Adriatic Sea.
The spines of the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins contain venom, which causes severe pain when pricking, and major complications are possible. The venom disintegrates by heat treatment.
Names of blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) in other languages as follows:
Shkerp i thellesise (Albanian), Blauwkeeltje (Dutch), Λειψός (Lipsos) (Greek), Gallineta (Spanish), Scorfano di fondale (Italian), Blaumäulchen (German), Sebdak przylądkowy (Polish), Boca-Negra (Portuguese), Синеротый окунь (Sinerotyi okunj) (Russian), Bodečnjak veliki, Jauk (Serbian, Croatian), Sinjeusti okun (Slovenian), Sébaste chèvre (French).