Raggy Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829)

Introduction

As its standard name suggests, this tropical marine species is covered with skin flaps and tentacles.

Identification

The Raggy Scorpionfish has branched tentacles and skin flaps on the head, body and fins. It has a relatively tall dorsal fin with 12 spines. The species is mottled brown with whitish areas. Juveniles are more onate than adults. The snout of this species is shorter than that of the Smallscale Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephala (pers. comm. Hiroyuki Motomura, 2016).

Habitat

It inhabits coral reef crevices.

Distribution

The species occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to southern Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.