Barchin Scorpionfish

The Barchin Scorpionfish (Sebastapistes strongia) is a marine ray-finned fish within the family Scorpaenidae, commonly known as scorpionfishes. This species is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific region and is typically observed in environments comprising mixed sand and rubble, such as reef flats, shallow lagoons, and channels.

The species was first formally described in 1829 as Scorpaena strongia by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier, with the type locality identified as Kosrae in the Caroline Islands, part of the Federated States of 🇫🇲 Micronesia. While Cuvier also described Scorpaena laniara in the same publication, Scorpaena strongia is widely accepted as the senior synonym and the valid name for this taxon due to prevalent usage. In 1877, American ichthyologist Theodore Gill introduced the genus Sebastapistes, which initially included three species but lacked a designated type species. Subsequently, in 1898, David Starr 🇯🇴 Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann designated Scorpaena strongia as the type species. The specific name "strongia" is a nod to the type locality, Kosrae, historically known as Strong's Island.

Morphologically, the Barchin Scorpionfish is characterized by 12 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin and three spines and five soft rays in its anal fin. The species also possesses two lachrymal spines. It can reach a maximum reported total length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in). Distinctive features include stripes emanating from its prominent eyes, sometimes accompanied by branched cirri above them. Its coloration varies from brown to reddish-brown, displaying a mottled pattern of brown, white, and black.

The distribution of the Barchin Scorpionfish is extensive throughout the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea and the eastern coast of Africa—including as far south as 🇿🇦 South Africa—eastward through the 🇮🇳 Indian and 🌊 Pacific Oceans to the Society Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), north to 🇯🇵 Japan, and south to 🇦🇺 Australia. It inhabits shallow waters, typically found at depths up to 37 meters (121 feet), but it is predominantly located in waters less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep among mixed sand and rubble areas.

Ecologically, the Barchin Scorpionfish is a solitary, nocturnal ambush predator. Its diet consists mainly of small fish and crustaceans.