Scorpaena sumptuosa

Scorpaena sumptuosa, the Western red scorpionfish, is a deadly species of marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. It is colored bright red to pale brown, around 400 millimeters in length, and has tassel-like appendages that aid its camouflage. This species lies in ambush, motionless and disguised amongst corals, where it awaits prey which it sucks into its large and quick mouth. A row of poisonous spines are found along the dorsal region which it is able to make erect when threatened.[2]

Scorpaena sumptuosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Scorpaena
Species:
S. sumptuosa
Binomial name
Scorpaena sumptuosa

Scorpaena sumptuosa is also known as the Western red scorpionfish, or scorpioncod. The species is endemic to the coast of Southwest Australia, in a range extending from Esperance, Western Australia to Point Quobba. Scorpaena sumptuosa is not as toxic to humans as the stonefish of the same region, but able to cause a painful sting.

Notes
  1. Researches on the fishes of Australia. Philadelphia Centennial Expedition of 1876. Intercolonial Exhibition Essays, 1875-6. Researches on the fishes of Australia. No. 2: 1-52.
  2. Morrison, Sue; Storrie, Ann (1999). Wonders of Western Waters. Como, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management. p. 113. ISBN 0-7309-6894-4.

References


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