WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Mozambique Scorpionfish

Parascorpaena mossambica

Also known as: Firefish, Golden Scorpionfish, Stingfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@blogie · Angel's Cove, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · April 20121 / 5
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, during the day well camouflaged, hiding in crevices and rocks, over mixed rubble and sandy areas of channels, reef flats and shallow lagoons, dispersing at night to hunt for food.

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
Body shape
cirriwings

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, during the day well camouflaged, hiding in crevices and rocks, over mixed rubble and sandy areas of channels, reef flats and shallow lagoons, dispersing at night to hunt for food.

04

Adult photos 5

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. genusParascorpaena
    7. speciesParascorpaena mossambica (Peters, 1855)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)