Spiny Devilfish

Inimicus filamentosus

Inimicus filamentosus, known variously as the filament-finned stinger, barred ghoul, two-stick stingfish or devil scorpionfish, is one of the venomous fishes in the genus Inimicus, part of the family Synanceiidae within the order Scorpaeniformes. These bottom-living fish inhabit sandy or silty floors of lagoon and seaward reefs in coastal tropical waters. Like its relatives in the genus, it is a demersal ambush hunter that is active at night and frequently buries itself partway into the sandy seabed during the day.

Family

Synanceiidae

Avg Size

20-25 cm

Habitat

It occurs in the western Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea and East Africa across to the Maldives.

Behaviour

I. filamentosus is a fish-eating ambush predator that hunts by night. By day it usually rests partly buried on the sea floor or on a coral head, masking itself with sand and debris, and it has no known natural predators. When threatened by a diver or potential attacker, it spreads its vividly coloured pectoral and tail fins as a warning, and once settled it is very reluctant to abandon its spot. When it does travel, it moves in an unusual way, creeping slowly across the bottom and using the four lowermost rays of its pectoral fins, two on each side, like legs.

Where & When to See It

Abu Hashish

Spiny Devilfish

Where & When to See It

More Fish