Scorpaena jacksoniensis

Scorpaena jacksoniensis was first formally described in 1866 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with the type locality given as Port Jackson in New South Wales. This species has been considered to be the type species of the genus Ruboralga, in 2011 this taxon was redefined as a species complex with Ruboralga confirmed as a junior synonym of Scorpaena, S. jacksoniensis was confirmed as a separate species from S. cardinalis which is confined to northern New Zealand and some islands in the Tasman Sea. The other valid species in the complex is S. orgila of Easter Island. The specific name jacksonensis means "from Jackson", a reference to the type locality. ==Description==

Scorpaena jacksoniensis has 12 spines and 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin, The juveniles can show a white to purplish blotch across the nape. Males have a large black spot on the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin. This species has reached a maximum length of > ==Distribution and habitat==

Scorpaena jacksoniensis is endemic to the temperate seas of southeastern Australia. It definitely occurs as far north as Caloundra in Queensland south to the Beware Reef in Victoria. It may also occur as far west as Western Port, Victoria, however the Victorian records are based on a few old specimens and the southern limit of this species appears to be Jervis Bay in New South Wales. at depths between . ==Biology==

Scorpaena jacksonensis is an ambush predator that uses its excellent camouflage to hide on the substrate, lying motionless and waiting for its prey of crustaceans and fishes to come within reach of its large mouth to be swallowed whole. They have separate sexes with external fertilisation, breeding in the summer and autumn. The females extrude hollow, two-lobed, buoyant gelatinous masses to protect their eggs. This is a slow growing species which can take 5 years to reach a length of and 10 years to reach and the oldest fish known was 33 years old. The dorsal spines in the dorsal fin are venomous and envenomation is extremely painful for people. ==Fisheries==

Scorpaena jacksoniensis has palatable flesh and is of minor interest to commercial line and recreational fisheries. ==References==