Black Scorpionfish
Scorpaena porcus
Tassled scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis oxycephala
About
Look twice at that lump of reddish-brown rock on the reef slope - it might be watching you back. The tasseled scorpionfish is the largest member of its genus, reaching about 36 cm, though most are closer to 30 cm.
Also known as: scorpaenopsis oxycephala, small-scale scorpionfish, smallscale scorpionfish, stingfish, weedy stingfish
- Length
- 30 cm · max 36 cm
- Depth
- 1–35 m
How to tell it apart
Camouflaged reef fish and rock are easy to confuse at a glance. The tell here is the beard: adults carry a fringe of fleshy tentacles around the mouth that most other scorpionfish in the same habitat lack.
Appearance
The body is elongated and narrows toward the rear. The snout is very long, and adults grow a 'beard' of numerous fleshy tentacles around the mouth. Colouring is a mottled, variable reddish-brown broken up by white patches, often with a darker triangular patch beneath the eye that spreads back over the cheek.
Habitat
Lives on clear-water outer reef slopes and channels with a mix of rock and coral, from near the surface down to about 35 m, though it has been recorded far deeper.
Behaviour
A solitary, nocturnal ambush predator, it lies motionless on the reef waiting for fish and crustaceans to pass, relying on its rock-like camouflage rather than a chase. Its venomous spines can cause a painful injury if stepped on in shallow water.
Did you know?
This is the largest species in its genus, Scorpaenopsis - every other scorpionfish in that group tops out smaller.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
