WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tassled Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Also known as: Firefish, Flathead Scorpionfish, Goblinfish, Smallscale Firefish, Smallscale Goblinfish, Smallscale Rockfish, Smallscale Scorpionfish, Smallscale Stingfish, Stingfish, Tasseled Goblinfish, Tasseled Rockfish, Weedy Stingfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Adult
@fishx6 · Komandoo Maldives Island Resort, Maldives · October 20051 / 124
01

Overview

Found singly, well camouflaged and blending in with their surroundings, over coral and rocky areas of clear water channels, and outer reef slopes. Adults are bearded with a number of tassels below the jaw, and highly variable in colour.

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., can cause death!

02

How to identify

Head & Mouth
beard

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 121
LIVES IN

Found singly, well camouflaged and blending in with their surroundings, over coral and rocky areas of clear water channels, and outer reef slopes.

04

Adult photos 124

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyScorpaenidae
    6. genusScorpaenopsis
    7. speciesScorpaenopsis oxycephala (Bleeker, 1849)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)