Fish · La Saladita, Guerrero

Stone Scorpionfish

Scorpaena mystes

Spanish: Rascacio (pez escorpión)

Stone Scorpionfish (Scorpaena mystes)
Photographed by zihuadean on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

Pacific spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena mystes) is a fish species found in shallow water and seaweed-covered reefs as well as on open, sandy areas between 1 and 85 m depth. An opportunistic predator, this cryptic fish lies unseen on the reef top waiting for small fishes to pass by. Although the flesh is of excellent quality, it is not utilized commercially due to its venomous spines. Most often recorded in Jan, Jul, Feb.

TaxonomyActinopterygii › Perciformes › Scorpaenidae
Local records3 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records956 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2025 – 2026
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Fish guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Stone Scorpionfish (Scorpaena mystes) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/scorpaena-mystes/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.