WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Red Scorpionfish

Scorpaena scrofa

Also known as: Bigscale Scorpionfish, Firefish, Goblinfish, Large-scaled Scorpionfish, Orange Scorpionfish, Sea Scorpion, Stingfish, Western Red Rockcod, Western Red Scorpion Cod, Western Scorpionfish, Whiskery Scorpionfish

VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@katatonia · Aquarium, Australia · May 20201 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, well camouflaged and blending in with their surroundings, over coral, mud, and rocky areas of inshore reefs.
Highly variable in colour.

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

Pattern
blotches

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

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

Found singly, well camouflaged and blending in with their surroundings, over coral, mud, and rocky areas of inshore 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 scrofa Linnaeus, 1758

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)