Synanceja horrida Click to enlarge image
Image of cast of Nofu or Stonefish, Synanceja horrida, Linnaeus, from Thursday Island, Torres Strait Image: Australian Museum Archives
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Synanceia
    Species
    Synanceia horrida
    Family
    SYNANCEIIDAE
    Order
    SCORPAENIFORMES
    Superorder
    ACANTHOPTERYGII
    Subdivision
    EUTELEOSTEI
    Class
    ACTINOPTERYGII
    Subphylum
    VERTEBRATA
    Phylum
    CHORDATA
    Kingdom
    ANIMALIA

Identification

Two species of stonefishes are recorded from Australia, the Reef Stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa. and the Estuarine Stonefish. One of the ways to tell the two species apart is the placement of the eyes. The eyes of the Reef Stonefish are are elevated and separated by a bony ridge; those of the Estuarine Stonefish are separated by a deep depression.



Distribution

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.



3d model

This 3D model hosted on Pedestal3D shows a combination of the skin and skeleton of an Australian Museum Ichthyology Collection (IB.8111) specimen.

Click '?' for instructions.



©Australian National University, National Laboratory for X-ray Micro Computed Tomography

View the Estuarine Stonefish on Pedestal3d for full screen and access to additional functions.