Tasseled scorpionfish
The tasseled scorpionfish, or small-scaled scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephala, is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It can reach a maximum length of 36 cm (14 in) and can vary considerably in color. Adults are bearded with a number of tassels below the jaw.
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| Species: | S. oxycephala |
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| Scorpaenopsis oxycephala (Bleeker, 1849) | |
They inhabit reef slopes from only 1 to 35 meters. When in shallow waters, swimmers may accidentally tread on them which may cause painful injury from the venomous spines. The Tassled scorpionfish has unique vibrant orange colors and markings that allow it to camouflage itself well in between the rocky reefs. Its well-camouflaged skin enables it to hide and wait for prey to pass by to strick it.[2]
Top view of S. oxycephala (Komodo)
References
- Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. 2016. Scorpaenopsis oxycephala. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T46098924A46665174. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T46098924A46665174.en. Downloaded on 20 July 2020.
- Doubilet, David; Ghisotti, Andrea (2005). The Red Sea. White star.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scorpaenopsis oxycephala. |
- "Scorpaenopsis oxycephala". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 23 January 2007.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Scorpaenopsis oxycephala" in FishBase. January 2007 version.
- Doubilet, David; Ghisotti, Andrea (2005). The Red Sea. White star.
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