Pumpkin Scorpionfish

This species has the following combination of characters: 16 pectoral-fin rays; 46-48 longitudinal scales series; embedded cycloid scales covering anteroventral surface of body and pectoral-fin base; lateral line sloping steeply downward above anterior 1/2 of pectoral fin; posterior margin of maxilla extending well beyond a vertical through posterior margin of orbit; well developed median interorbital ridge, its highest portion greater in height than interorbital ridges; a single spine on the lateral surface of lacrimal; anterior lacrimal spine with anadditional spine; posterior lacrimal spine simple; suborbital spines 3, posterior end of 1st suborbital spine base below eye between posterior margins of pupil and orbit; space between upper and lower opercular spines not covered with fleshy skin; supraocular tentacle shorter than pupil diameter,1.7-3.9% (mean 3.1%) of SL in length; no tentacles on the underside of lower jaw; no skin flap on pectoral-fin axil; relatively deep body (depth 36.4-42.6% of SL); head and body when fresh yellowish-orange and with numerous small distinct black spots, averaging about 1/10 body scale diameter in size, scattered on entire head and body (exceptfor ventral surface of head and body), dorsal, anal and caudal fins, and upper 1/2 of pectoral fin; a large black blotch at the margin of membrane between 6th and 10th or 11th dorsal-fin spines in males (Ref. 75791).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 24

分布於西北太平洋地區。台灣分布於南部與北部。

小型魚類，除學術研究外，不具經濟價值。常為拖網所兼捕。

體延長，側扁。頭大，棘稜具明顯的鋸齒狀。眼中大，上側位；眼球高達頭背緣；口較小，上端位，斜裂，腭骨向後延伸稍超過眼後方。淚骨具2棘，1強棘位於眼眶前端下緣，另有1棘位於強棘之後方，尖端向後，後淚骨棘朝向後腹側突起，長度未達上唇。眶下棘3個，第一眶下棘後側位於眼後下方約瞳孔與眼眶之間。上與下鰓蓋骨棘之間無皮膚覆蓋。眶上骨觸鬚，長度比瞳孔短；下頜下側無觸鬚。體側由櫛鱗所覆蓋，體腹側由圓鱗所覆蓋。側線上側位，前端於胸鰭1/2處，向下傾斜，後端平直，末端延伸至尾鰭基部。背鰭硬棘與鰭條有鰭膜相連，硬棘部鰭膜凹入而近基底，硬棘部的基底長於軟條部的基底，具硬棘 XII，軟條 9；臀鰭起始於背鰭第一軟條下方，鰭長度較背鰭軟條短，具硬棘 III，軟條5；胸鰭寬圓，下側位，無鰭條分離，未延長至臀鰭，軟條16；腹鰭胸位，具硬棘 I，軟條5；尾鰭圓形。體側黃橙色，頭部、體側、背鰭、臀鰭、尾鰭及胸鰭上半部皆散布黑色斑點；雄性於背鰭第六和第十~十一棘處具有1個黑斑塊。(李承運、林沛立2012/11編寫)

暖水性海洋魚類，中小型。棲息於深水的岩礁或沙底附近。體態與環境相似，常伏擊小魚和甲殼動物等為食。卵生。背鰭鰭棘下具毒腺，是海中危險生物。