Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus)

Also known as Bearded Ghoulfish, Demon Goblinfish, Demon Rockfish, Demon Stinger, Demon Stinger Scorpionfish, Devilfish, Devil Scorpionfish, Devil Stinger, Devil Stinger Scorpionfish, Firefish, Goblinfish, Indian Walkman, Longsnout Stinger, Longsnout Stingerfish, Pop-eyed Sea Goblin, Red Sea Walkman, Sea Goblin, Spiny Devilfish, Stingfish

Description

Also known as Bearded Ghoulfish, Demon Goblinfish, Demon Rockfish, Demon Stinger, Demon Stinger Scorpionfish, Devilfish, Devil Scorpionfish, Devil Stinger, Devil Stinger Scorpionfish, Firefish, Goblinfish, Indian Walkman, Longsnout Stinger, Longsnout Stingerfish, Pop-eyed Sea Goblin, Red Sea Walkman, Sea Goblin, Spiny Devilfish, Stingfish.

Found singly, sometimes half buried, and blending in with silty mud and sand bottoms, over lagoons and seaward reefs. Walks rather than swims.
They feed on crustaceans and small fish.
Length - 25cm
Depth - 1-80m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Scorpionfish are masters of camouflage, enabling them to lie in wait for their victims to come close, before lunging forward and inhaling their prey with their large mouths.
When disturbed they raise the spines along their backs and will usually move off out of harms way, however, if cornered they are able to charge at considerable speed.
Highly dangerous and poisonous with venomous spines along its back if trodden on etc. Ref: https://www.fishbase.de/summary/5826

5 comments

  1. Posted by Steven P Walker
    June 20, 2013 at 21:49 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    got stung by one today - not pleasant at all, very lucky to be protected so not enough venom to do major damage plus high heat submersion applied within 5 minutes seems to have limited the damage!

  2. Posted by oceandweller7
    June 03, 2012 at 20:11 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    Wesawoneonarecentdiveathairballtwoinlembehstraitsthatwasstalkingacoconutoctupus

  3. Posted by KA
    June 02, 2012 at 22:48 pm - 1 person found this useful.

    saw one of these at the Gold Coast Seaway (Queensland, Australia) tonight, very brown colouration, 'walking' along the sand...cool!

  4. Posted by oceandweller7
    April 06, 2011 at 11:01 am - 1 person found this useful.

    When on muck dives, bearded ghouls often pop out of nowhere. Dives should have long sticks and remind themselves to have a good distance from the bottom. Photographers should take caution as the cheek is exposed.

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Known Sightings / Photograph Locations

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