the lower rays free of its membrane. The gill membranes are not attached to the isthmus. In some species, there is no swim bladder. There are venom glands in the spines of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins in some species. Most species utilise internal fertilisation, and some species are ovoviviparous while others lay their eggs in a gelatinous mass, with Scorpaena guttata being reported to create a gelatinous "egg balloon" as large as across. The largest species is the shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis) which attains a maximum total length of while many species have maximum total lengths of . Distribution and habitat Scorpaenidae species are mainly found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but some species are also found in the Atlantic Ocean. Some species such as the lionfishes in the genus Pterois are invasive non natives species in areas such as the Caribbean and the eastern Mediterranean Sea. They are found in marine and brackish habitats. They typically inhabit reefs, but can also be found in estuaries, bays, and lagoons. References Further reading External links Scorpaenidae entry on the Animal Diversity Web. Scorpionfish Rescue - Koh Phangan, Thailand Scorpaenoidei Venomous fish Ray-finned fish families Marine fish families Taxa named by Antoine Risso