Bullrout
Notesthes robusta
Stonefish
stonefish_g357
About
Stonefish are camouflaged, venomous fish that look like a lump of rock on the seabed. In this app the group includes the reef stonefish, the cockatoo waspfish, and the estuarine stonefish.
How to tell it apart
The mark that settles it is staying still and blending into rock or rubble; a stonefish is easy to miss and is sometimes confused with a lionfish, which instead shows bold stripes and long, feathery fins. Members are told apart mainly by exact colour, pattern, and where they sit on the reef.
Appearance
Stonefish have a grey, lumpy, mottled body that copies the colour of stone or coral, with a wide head and needle-like spines along the back. The spines lie flat until the fish is disturbed, then stand up.
Habitat
Most stonefish live on coral reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, though some species are found in rivers.
Behaviour
Stonefish stay still on the seabed and rely on camouflage rather than swimming away. If touched or stepped on, the dorsal spines inject venom, and the amount released depends on how much pressure is applied. They can also survive out of water for up to 24 hours.
Did you know?
Stonefish are the most venomous fish known, and the standard treatment for a sting is soaking the area in hot water, which breaks down the venom.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
