WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Weedy Scorpionfish

Rhinopias frondosa

Also known as: Firefish, Goblinfish, Goose Rhinopias, Goose Scorpionfish, Pop-eyed Scorpionfish, Stingfish, Weedy Firefish, Weedy Goblinfish, Weedy Rockfish, Weedy Scorpion, Weedy Stingfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2016
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeth Resort, Indonesia · June 20061 / 4
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Overview

Found singly, blending in with corals, rocks, and weeds, over soft mud and sand bottoms, of coral and rocky, current swept channels close to reefs, rich in algae growth. Colour varies. They feed nocturnally, on small fish and invertebrates.

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.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly, blending in with corals, rocks, and weeds, over soft mud and sand bottoms, of coral and rocky, current swept channels close to reefs, rich in algae growth.

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Adult photos 4

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Discussion 1

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1 comment

  • Jackie· 27 Jun 2018

    Three Weedy scorpionfish were sited in Sodwana bay , South Africa

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FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

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Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderPerciformes
  5. familyScorpaenidae
  6. genusRhinopias
  7. speciesRhinopias frondosa (Günther, 1892)

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)