reef scorpionfish
Scorpaenodes caribbaeus
Small scorpionfish of coral reefs, reaching 12 cm and living hidden in crevices and ledges. It has commercial use, but almost never turns up on the line.
Also called: aniquim-de-recife, aniquim, escorpión de arrecife, reef scorpionfish
- maximum
- 12 cm
- depth
- 0–70 m
who is the reef scorpionfish
The reef aniquim is a small scorpionfish of the family Scorpaenidae, reaching 12 cm. It lives on coral reefs, from 0 to 70 m deep. It is discreet but common, and sometimes sits a little above the hard bottom or near cave ceilings and ledges. Like other scorpionfish, it has spines on the head and fins that can cause wounds. It has commercial use but, being small and discreet, almost never turns up on line fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the reef scorpionfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Lives hidden in crevices and ledges of the reef, but is common.
identification
Small, with a conspicuous dark spot on the back of the dorsal fin spines and a ridge under the eye with spine tips. It lacks the depression behind the eyes that the aniquim (Scorpaena brasiliensis) has, which helps separate the two. If the fish has dark brown spots at the base of the pectorals and the depression behind the eyes, it is the aniquim.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Lives in the western Atlantic, from Florida and the Bahamas to Panama and northern South America, including the Caribbean and the Antilles. In Latin America it occurs in Brazil, the Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.
Habitat: Coral reefs, 0 to 70 m, near hard bottoms and cave ceilings.
coast
rules for the reef scorpionfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The family's spines can cause painful wounds, so handle with care.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01288, b = 3.02; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Scorpaenodes caribbaeus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Scorpaenodes caribbaeusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
