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Is a scorpion fish the same as a "rock fish"?


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#1 scubajunkie6

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 03:57 PM

I'm going through some scuba photos, and this question has bothered me for a long time, but I never thought to ask about it here (until now)...

Spotted scorpionfish have 3 dark stripes on its tail. But I've also heard the term "rock fish" (where the underwater symbol is a closed fist pounding on an open hand, with palm facing up). Is a rock fish (or "rockfish") a nickname for scorpionfish?

...An inquiring mind wants to know!
Thanks in advance,
Margaret

#2 georoc01

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 04:25 PM

A rock fish is a type of scorpionfish found in the pacific.

lionfish is also a type of scorpionfish.


http://en.wikipedia....ki/Scorpaenidae

#3 scubaski

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 07:04 PM

I typically use scorpionfish, rockfish and stonefish as the same fish well concealed and stationary, lionfish on the other hand seem to be more mobile and flamboyant.
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#4 scubajunkie6

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 09:14 PM

Thanks for the link! Yes, I hear rock fish and stone fish used interchangeably. Didn't think about it, but yes, they do have the same snout? as lionfish...interesting!

Here's a link about lionfish and their introduction to the US:
http://news.sciencem...h-dont-bla.html

It is really a strange sight to see them outside of the Indo-Pacific. I saw some black colored lionfish in Roatan. I hope groupers learn that they can eat them, as it seems they are their only predators that I know of, besides man.

#5 Parrotman

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Posted 08 July 2010 - 09:24 PM

interesting thing about lionfish. In Papua New Guinea there are several different colors of lionfish. Some very red, some brownish, some blackish. When I was in Utila this year we saw several but they were all the same color. A blackish stripe on a tan body. The other thing I noticed about lionfish in Utila is that they were all at about 90 to 100 feet. Not so in PNG where you could find them at varied depths.

Curious observation.

Jim
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#6 georoc01

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Posted 09 July 2010 - 05:36 AM

interesting thing about lionfish. In Papua New Guinea there are several different colors of lionfish. Some very red, some brownish, some blackish. When I was in Utila this year we saw several but they were all the same color. A blackish stripe on a tan body. The other thing I noticed about lionfish in Utila is that they were all at about 90 to 100 feet. Not so in PNG where you could find them at varied depths.

Curious observation.

Jim


I know when I was in Roatan, the DM's were taking the lionfish out with spears, so where they are abundant is even deeper than that. We found a lionfish condo at 165 feet with 14 on one piece of coral.

#7 drbill

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Posted 09 July 2010 - 08:28 AM

As mentioned previously, yes. They are all members of the scorpionfish family. We have MANY species of "rockfish" out here on the West Coast as well as the treefish and scorpionfish.

#8 Hipshot

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Posted 10 July 2010 - 11:37 AM

As mentioned previously, yes. They are all members of the scorpionfish family. We have MANY species of "rockfish" out here on the West Coast as well as the treefish and scorpionfish.


On the East Coast, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay area, "rockfish" is the name given to the striped bass. It is a member of the temperate water basses family (Percichthyidae). It's called a rockfish because of its affinity for rocky reefs. In our more tropical waters, we do have scorpionfish.

Rick

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#9 drbill

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Posted 11 July 2010 - 07:55 AM

On the East Coast, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay area, "rockfish" is the name given to the striped bass. It is a member of the temperate water basses family (Percichthyidae). It's called a rockfish because of its affinity for rocky reefs. In our more tropical waters, we do have scorpionfish.


Ah, the joy of common names... common to more than one group!

#10 scubajunkie6

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Posted 11 July 2010 - 09:26 PM

On the East Coast, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay area, "rockfish" is the name given to the striped bass. It is a member of the temperate water basses family (Percichthyidae). It's called a rockfish because of its affinity for rocky reefs. In our more tropical waters, we do have scorpionfish.


Ah, the joy of common names... common to more than one group!


And the fact that these fish look totally different from the scorpion fish!

THANKS to everyone who read and helped out with this discussion. I almost had to post about a "creature" that looked like something from the lobster family, but no long antennaes. The crew said it was a flipper, but after more research at home, I now realized it was a "slipper"!

I'm going to buy the Reef Identification Set, as I had borrowed someone else's copy. These books are fantastic!

#11 H2Oaddict

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Posted 13 July 2010 - 06:32 AM

:birthday: For all of those in the south Florida area, REEF is having a Fish ID workshop at the headquarters in Key Largo, mm 98.5 on the North bound side of US1. It's open to the public and starts at 6:30 pm. :cool1:

BTW - saw two lionfish on the Elbow Sunday, reported them when we got to the dock.
Happy Diving, LJMongy

#12 scubaski

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Posted 13 July 2010 - 11:06 AM

Just came upon this video. Hope the audio links up.

http://www.bing.com/...o...p&gt1=42006
MADRE FELIZ DIA MAMÁ




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