Scorpaenopsis diabolus, the false stonefish, false scorpionfish or the devil scorpionfish,[3] 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.
Taxonomy
Scorpaenopsis diabolus was first formally described as Scorpaena diabolus by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as "Mer du Croisic", a name for the northern Bay of Biscay, this is clearly erroneous, as this species is only found in the Indo-West Pacific.[4] The specific name diabolus means "devil", probably a reference to the venomous spines in its dorsal-fin. In 1829 Cuvier & Valenciennes wrote in the Histoire naturelle des poissons that the locals in the Moluccas Islands of Indonesia avoid this fish as its name represents a "bad omen", and that its venom had killed two locals following “frightful suffering”.[5]
Description
Scorpaenopsis diabolus has a broad head with a wide mouth, a humped back, and a tapering body, and can reach 30 cm (12 in) in length.[3] Its dorsal fin has 12 venomous spines and eight to 10 soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and five to six soft rays. The skin is rough with low conical projections, spines, and tassels. The colouring is a combination of mottled grey and white with reddish-brown blotches and the fish is well-camouflaged among stones and corals. The inner sides of the broad pectoral fins have orange, black, and white blotches and the fins can be "flashed" as a warning. This fish closely resembles the reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa).[2][6]
Scorpaenopsis diabolus exhibits biofluorescence, that is, when illuminated by blue or ultraviolet light, it re-emits it as red, and appears differently than under white light illumination. Biofluorescence may assist in intraspecific communication and camouflage.[7]
Distribution and habitat
Scorpaenopsis diabolus is found at depths to about 70 m (230 ft) in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its range extends from South and East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Australia, and New Caledonia. It is found on the seabed among rubble, seaweed-covered rocks or on rocks encrusted with coralline algae on reef flats, lagoons, and the seaward side of reefs.[2]
Biology
Scorpaenopsis diabolus is a bottom-dwelling fish and is sometimes partially covered with sediment. It is an ambush predator and feeds on passing prey such as invertebrates and small fish.[6] It flares its pectoral fins as a warning if disturbed by a potential predator. Its venomous dorsal spines can inflict a painful wound.[2]
References
- ^ Motomura, H.; Matsuura, K. (2016). "Scorpaenopsis diabolus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T69918624A70009965. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69918624A70009965.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Scorpaenopsis diabolus". FishBase. August 2021 version.
- ^ a b "False Stonefish, Scorpaenopsis diabolus (Cuvier, 1829)". Australian Museum. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Scorpaenopsis". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ a b King, Dennis; Fraser, Valda (2002). More Reef Fishes & Nudibranchs: East and South Coast of Southern Africa. Struik. p. 28. ISBN 9781868726868.
- ^ Sparks, John S.; Schelly, Robert C.; Smith, W. Leo; Davis, Matthew P.; Tchernov, Dan; Pieribone, Vincent A.; Gruber, David F. (2014). "The Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence: A Phylogenetically Widespread and Phenotypically Variable Phenomenon". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e83259. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...983259S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083259. PMC 3885428. PMID 24421880.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. p. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. p. 201.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. p. 433.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. p. 330.Poss. S.G. Scorpaenidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
- Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific: New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawai'i Press. p. 584.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. p. 557.
External links
- Photos of Scorpaenopsis diabolus on Sealife Collection
