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Which major fish groups belong to the suborder Scorpaenoidei?

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Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa). — scorpaeniform Stonefish (*Synanceia verrucosa*).

The suborder Scorpaenoidei is the largest of the seven suborders within the order scorpaeniform, comprising 12 distinct families.1

While the suborder includes a diverse array of species, the most prominent and well-known group within the Scorpaenoidei is the family Scorpaenidae, which consists of scorpion fishes and rockfishes. These fishes are characterized by their spiny-rayed bodies and are of significant ecological and commercial importance, with certain genera like Sebastes (redfishes) serving as valuable resources for global fishing industries.12

The classification of scorpaeniforms remains a subject of ongoing scientific study, as the order is sometimes viewed as an aggregation of distinct evolutionary lines rather than a single cohesive group.3