Demon Stingerfish, Inimicus caledonicus (Sauvage, 1878)

Scientific name: Inimicus caledonicus
Alternative name/s:
The species has also been called the Bearded Ghoul and Demon Stinger.
Similar species:
Three species of Inimicus occur in Australian waters. These are the Demon Stingerfish, the Longsnout Stinger, I. didactylus and the Spotted Stonefish, I. sinensis. They can be separated by a combination of characters that include the colouration of the inner surface of the pectoral fin of live fish. The Demon Stingerfish has two dark bands and a pale margin on the inner surface of the pectoral fin. The inner surface of the pectoral fin of the Longsnout Stinger has a dark base and a dark margin. The Spotted Stonefish's inner pectoral surface is dark with white blotches.
Demon Stingerfish Click to enlarge image
A Demon Stingerfish at a depth of 18m, Pulau Kerengga, Redang, Terengganu, Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Inimicus
    Species
    caledonicus
    Family
    Synanceiidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 25 cm in length.

Introduction

The Demon Stingerfish has poisonous dorsal fin spines that can cause a painful wound. The species is found in shallow, tropical marine waters.

Identification

The Demon Stingerfish is usually brown, sometimes with whitish blotches. Its eyes are positioned above the dorsal margin of the head. It has long venomous dorsal fin spines that can inflict a painful wound. The lower two pectoral fin rays are detached from the rest of the fin. These are used by the Demon Stingerfish to crawl along the seabed.

Habitat

The species is usually found in sandy areas and seagrass beds.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean to Western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from northern Queensland, south to the northern coast of New South Wales.

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

References

  1. Eschmeyer, W.N. & K.V. Rama-Rao. 1979. Fishes of the Scorpionfish subfamily Choridactylinae from the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. XLI(21): 475-500.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  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.