false stonefish

Scorpaenopsis diabolus

Uses camouflage to capture passing prey

Tropical
Transcontinental
Marine fish
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Africa
East Asia
Oceania
Fusiform
Medium
Tropical fish

Scorpaenopsis diabolus, the false stonefish, false scorpionfish or the devil scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It has venomous spines and lives in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in the Red Sea. It is a bottom-dwelling predator that relies on its camouflage to catch passing prey.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Perches and Allies
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Scorpaenopsis
Maximum length: 30 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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