Scorpidinae


The Scorpidinae, commonly known as halfmoons, knifefishes, and sweeps, are a subfamily of the Family |family Kyphosidae, the sea chubs, a family of marine fish in the order Perciformes. The Scorpidinae are distributed throughout the Pacific and east Indian Oceans, with species occurring in the waters of North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and numerous islands. Most inhabit the continental shelf in shallow rock and kelp reefs and deeper offshore reefs, whilst others are found well offshore in a pelagic setting. Most of the Scorpidinae are carnivorous, taking a variety of small crustaceans, although some are partly herbivorous. A number of the larger species are fished commercially and recreationally, and are considered good table fish.

Classification

lists 12 species in 5 genera under the subfamily Scorpidinae, the genera are set out below
The 5th edition of Fishes of the World includes Neoscorpis within the subfamily Scorpidinae but other authorities place it within the Kyphosinae, although these authorities usually classify the subfamilies of the Kyphosidae as families.