WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Painted Scorpionfish

Parascorpaena picta

Also known as: Marbled Coralcod, Northern Scorpionfish, Painted Stingfish, Stingfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
Adult
@NicoleFu · Seaventure, Malaysia · June 20171 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly and well camouflaged, over shallow, murky, rock and sandy bottoms, in crevices and around inshore rock walls, of coastal reefs.

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
tassels

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly and well camouflaged, over shallow, murky, rock and sandy bottoms, in crevices and around inshore rock walls, of coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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 picta (Cuvier, 1829)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)