Fish of the Scorpaena genus of the Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes) family of the suborder Scorpaenoidei of the Scorpaeniformes order of the Acanthopterygii superorder.
(Slender rockfish. Photo by © Pedro Niny Duarte(c)ImagDOP. fishbase.org)
Slender rockfish (Scorpaena elongata) was first described in 1943 by the French ichthyologist Jean Caden (1908-1992).
It inhabits the depth of 75-800 meters, usually 100-600 meters. It prefers to swim close to the rocky bottom. The maximum recorded length is 50 cm, specimens about 30 cm long are more common. It feeds on fish, shrimps and other benthic invertebrates.
(Slender rockfish. Photo by © Giuseppe Mazza. photomazza.com)
It is a permanent inhabitant of the Adriatic Sea, which is more often found in its southern part. It is a rare species.
The spines of the dorsal fin contain venom, which causes severe pain when pricking, and major complications are possible. The venom disintegrates by heat treatment.
Names of slender rockfish (Scorpaena elongata) in other languages as follows:
Shkerp i kuq (Albanian), Κοκκινοσκορπίνα (Kokkinoskorpina) (Greek), Gallineta rosada (Spanish), Scorfano rosa (Italian), Rosa Drachenkopf (German), Rascasso-rosado (Portuguese), Ružičasta škrpina, Crvena škarpina (Serbian, Croatian), Rascasse rose (French).