Author: Cadenat, 1943
Scorpaena loppei Cadenat, 1943
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Scorpaena loppei Cadenat, 1943 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: head large; maxilla with a characteristic longitudinal crest; snout shorter than orbit diameter; preorbital bone with 2 spines over maxilla, first is very blunt, second is long and curved to rear; sub- orbital ridge with 4 spinous points; upper post-temporal spine present; other spines as for the genus. Occipital pit present. Pores at symphysis of lower jaw united. Tentacles on head and body moderate or poorly developed; supra-ocular tentacle shorter than orbit diameter. Dorsal fin with 12 spines and 9 rays; pectoral fin with 18 rays. Scales on body weakly ctenoid; 35-40 vertical rows of scales; chest, pectoral fin base and head naked. Vertebrae 24. Gillrakers 14-16 (5 + 9-11). Colour: general colour pink with many black spots on body; a dark spot on spinous dorsal fin between spines 6 and 9; fins with dusky bands. Size: to 1O cm .
Habitat: benthic on muddy sand or gravel between 100 and 200 m. Food: mainly crustaceans. Reproduction: no data.
Distribution: Bay of Biscay to Morocco and Mauritania; western Mediterranean, and one record in Cyprus.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.