Animal Species:Raggy Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis venosa (Cuvier, 1829)

As its standard name suggests, this tropical marine species is covered with skin flaps and tentacles.

Raggy Scorpionfish at Lizard Island

Raggy Scorpionfish at Lizard Island
Lyle Vail © Australian Museum

Identification

The Raggy Scorpionfish has branched tentacles and skin flaps on the head, body and fins.  It has a relatively tall dorsal fin with 12 spines.  The species is mottled brown with whitish areas.  Juveniles are more onate than adults.

Size range

18 cm

Distribution

The species occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to southern Queensland.

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

Scorpaenopsis venosa

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Raggy Scorpioinfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It inhabits coral reef crevices.

Classification

Species:
venosa
Genus:
Scorpaenopsis
Family:
Scorpaenidae
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Raggy Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis venosa, Scorpaenidae, marine, skin flaps, tentacles, blotchs/mottled, 10 cm - 30 cm, tropical water, coral reef,