The blue‐mouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) (Pisces: Scorpaenidae), is a scorpionfish widespread in the whole Mediterranean basin, where it plays an important ecological role in deep‐sea fish communities. The depauperation of this large‐size sedentary and slow‐growing fish can be an index of overexploitation. This species is found throughout all Italian seas; the juveniles are mainly located aroun...