The Cabezon Fish

selim12 April 4, 2024 0 Comments

The cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) is a species of sculpin, the genus name translates literally as “scorpion fish”, they are not truly a scorpionfish.

The cabezon was first formally described as Hemitripterus marmoratus in 1854 by the American physician and ichthyologist William Orville Ayres when it was found in California.

Table of Contents

Habitat of The Cabezon Fish:

This fish is found Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California. The depth range starts from 0–200 meters including rocky, sandy, and muddy bottoms.

Description of The Cabezon Fish:

The cabezon fish is a scaleless fish with a broad bony support extending from the eye. It has 11 spines. The cabezon has a spine before the eye. It has flaps also behind the eye. The mouth is wide with small teeth. The colors are red, green, and brown. The males are red while the females are green. The length can reach 99 cm and can weigh over 14 kg. The name cabezon comes from Spanish meaning the large head compared to body size.

Diet:

The primary food source of the cabezon fish is crustaceans and mollusks, and small fishes from the water column.

Behavior And Lifespan:

They are solitary animals laying on sea rocks, sea floor waiting for prey. They have lots of darker mottling to help with the camouflage. They are solitary animals. Cabezon is also known to be territorial and aggressive, especially during spawning season, when males guard their nests from other males. They are not active swimmers. They are predator hunters waiting for fish to pass and then striking in light quickness.

Reproduction Of Cabezon Fish:

The spawning season occurs between October and March, peaking in January where females lay eggs on rocky habitats with males guarding the eggs until hatching. After hatching, the larvae develop into silvery fish and after a few months, they move to rocky and sandy bottoms.