Steven P Walker· 20 Jun 2013
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!
Bony fish
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
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
LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
VenomousKeep your distance
01
Overview
Found singly, sometimes half buried, and blending in with silty mud and sand bottoms, over lagoons and seaward reefs. Walks rather than swims.
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.
02
How to identify
- Pattern
- blotches
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
03
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-West Pacific
- Country only · 47
LIVES IN
Found singly, sometimes half buried, and blending in with silty mud and sand bottoms, over lagoons and seaward reefs.
RANGE
04
Adult photos 47
05
Discussion 5
5 comments
- oceandweller7· 3 Jun 2012
Wesawoneonarecentdiveathairballtwoinlembehstraitsthatwasstalkingacoconutoctupus
- KA· 2 Jun 2012
saw one of these at the Gold Coast Seaway (Queensland, Australia) tonight, very brown colouration, 'walking' along the sand...cool!
- oceandweller7· 6 Apr 2011
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.
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS
Deep dive
06
More in the family
Stonefishes (Synanceiidae)
