The genus Sebastopsis differs from Sebastodes only in having no teeth on the palatines. The species, all of small size and red or varied coloration, are confined to the Pacific. Sebastopsis xyris occurs in lower California and Sebastopsis guamensis and S. scaber in Polynesia. Species of this genus are often found dried in Chinese insect boxes.
Helicolenus differs from Sebastiscus only in the total absence of air-bladder. The species are all bright crimson in color, very handsome, and live in deep water. Helicolenus dactylopterus is rather common in the Mediterranean, and is sometimes taken in the Gulf Stream, and also in Japan, where two or three other species occur.
Neosebastes is much like Sebastodes, but the suborbital stay bears strong spines and the dorsal is very high. Neosebastes panda is found in Australia, and N. entaxis in Japan. Setarches is distinguished by the cavernous bones of its head. Species are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific in deep water. Several other peculiar or transitional genera are found in different parts of the Pacific.
Fig. 371.—Florida Lion fish, Scorpæna grandicornis Cuv. & Val. Key West.
In Scorpæna the head is more uneven in outline than in Sebastodes and Sebastichthys, skinny flaps are often present on head and body, the air-bladder is wanting, there are 12 dorsal spines and 24 vertebræ, and on each dorsal spine is a small venom-secreting gland. The species are very numerous, highly varied in color, and found in all warm seas, being known as scorpion-fishes or Rascacios. Two species, Scorpæna scrofa and Scorpæna porcus, are common in the Mediterranean, being regarded as good food-fishes, though disliked by the fishermen.
Of the numerous West Indian species, Scorpæna plumieri, Scorpæna grandicornis, and Scorpæna brasiliensis are best known. Scorpæna guttata is common in southern California and is an excellent food-fish. Scorpæna mystes is found on the west coast of Mexico. Scorpæna onaria and S. izensis are found in Japan. Fossil remains referred to Scorpæna are recorded from the Tertiary rocks.
In the islands of the Pacific are numerous dwarf species less than three inches long, which have been set apart as a separate genus, Sebastapistes. The longest known of these is Sebastapistes strongensis, named from Strong Island, abundant in crevices in the corals throughout Polynesia, and much disliked by fishermen.
Fig. 372.—Sea-scorpion, Scorpæna mystes Jordan. Mazatlan.