Estuarine Stonefish
Synanceia horrida
Also known as: Dornorn, Estuary Stonefish, Fish Stone, Hollowcheek Stonefish, Hollow-cheeked Stonefish, Horrid Stonefish, Poison Scorpionfish, Reef Stone, Spiny Devil Walking Fish, True Stonefish, Warty Ghoul
- Dornorn
- Estuary Stonefish
- Fish Stone
- Hollowcheek Stonefish
- Hollow-cheeked Stonefish
- Horrid Stonefish
- Poison Scorpionfish
- Reef Stone
- Spiny Devil Walking Fish
- True Stonefish
- Warty Ghoul
Overview
Found singly, lying in depressions in the sand, with just the fins and spines showing, or under coral, rubble, and rocks, extremely well camouflaged, moving over reef tops of coral and rocky reefs at night, hunting for their prey. Predators of the stone fish are Sharks and Rays.
They feed on crustaceans and small fish, swallowing them whole.
Stonefish are masters of camouflage looking and lying like stones and rocks waiting for their prey.
This is the most venomous fish in the world. It has thirteen stout spines in the dorsal fin which can inject a highly toxic venom if trodden on etc., most victims are reef walkers with flimsy shoes or no shoes.
However if the area around them is disturbed they will swim away.
Highly dangerous have been known to cause death.
How to identify
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Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-West Pacific
- Exact location · 4
- Country only · 13
Found singly, lying in depressions in the sand, with just the fins and spines showing, or under coral, rubble, and rocks, extremely well camouflaged, moving over reef tops of coral and rocky reefs at night, hunting for their prey.
Adult photos 17
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Deep dive
More in the family
Stonefishes (Synanceiidae)




