ocellated waspfish

Apistus carinatus

By day only its eyes remain above the sand

Transcontinental
Marine fish
Pacific Ocean
Africa
East Asia
Oceania
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Fusiform
Medium

Apistus is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Apistinae, the wasp scorpionfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. Its only species is the Apistus carinatus, which has the common names ocellated waspfish, bearded waspfish, longfin waspfish or ringtailed cardinalfish. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Perches and Allies
Family: Apistidae
Genus: Apistus
Maximum length: 20 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Persian Gulf south to Natal, South Africa and east to India and the Philippines, north to China and Japan, south Australia.
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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