WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Canary Scorpionfish

Scorpaena canariensis

Also known as: Goblinfish, Stingfish

Adult
@bethybobble16 · in lanzarote canary islands, Morocco · July 20131 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly on mud and sand bottoms over coral and rocky reefs.
Eastern Atlantic - Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira

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

Body shape
spikes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Atlantic
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly on mud and sand bottoms over coral and rocky reefs.

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Adult photos 1

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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. genusScorpaena
    7. speciesScorpaena canariensis (Sauvage, 1878)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)