Scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis oxycephala
Scorpaenopsis oxycephala, the tasseled or small-scaled scorpionfish, is a venomous marine ray-finned fish of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. Widely distributed across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, it is the largest species in its genus.
Family
Scorpaenidae
Avg Size
25-35 cm
Habitat
Its broad Indo-Pacific range runs from the Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay in South Africa and across the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf east to New Guinea, south to Australia and north to Taiwan and probably the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. In Australian waters it occurs on the Northwest Shelf off Western Australia, at Cartier Island in the Timor Sea, on the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland and at Christmas Island, and it has also been reported from False Bay in South Africa. It inhabits reef slopes from just 1 to 35 metres deep.
Behaviour
This is a solitary, nocturnal ambush predator that feeds on fishes and crustaceans. In shallow water, swimmers can accidentally step on one and suffer a painful sting from its venomous spines. Its vibrant orange colours and markings give it excellent camouflage among the rocky reefs.
Where & When to See It
Temple
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fury Shoals
Gota Abu Ramada
Habili Ali
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Laguna Reef
Middle Garden
Near Garden
Panorama Reef
Pinky Wall
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Zaatar
Salem Express
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Shaab Sataya
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Small Crack
Soma Bay Garden
The Alternatives
Thomas Reef
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Careless Reef
Fiddle Garden
Sodfa
Abu Dabbab
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Giftun
Eel Garden
El Fanous West
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Ras Abu Helal
Gordon Reef
Small Giftun
Hamda
South Ras Abu Galum
SS Turkia
Ras Nasrani
Amphoras
Abu Nuhas
Rosalie Moller
Napoleon Reef
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
The Barge at Bluff Point
El Erug
El Fanadir
The Caves
El Mina Wreck
The Islands
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Ras Disha
Giannis D
Shaab Petra
Three Pools
Tower
Ras Um Sid
Kimon M
Kormoran
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Lighthouse
Eel Gardens
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
The Canyon
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Shark's Bay
Paradise
Siyul Kebira
Little Brother Island