Kingdom Animalia Genus Scorpaenopsis Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Scorpaenidae Scientific name Scorpaenopsis oxycephala Higher classification Scorpaenopsis Order Scorpaeniformes | |
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Similar Scorpaenopsis, Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis diabolus, Leaf Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis papuensis | ||
Slow motion footage of a tasseled scorpionfish eating
The tasseled scorpionfish, or small-scaled scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis oxycephala, is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It can reach a maximum length of 36 cm (14 in) and can vary considerably in color. Adults are bearded with a number of tassels below the jaw.
Contents
They inhabit reef slopes from only 1 to 35 meters. When in shallow waters, swimmers may accidentally tread on them which may cause painful injury from the venomous spines.
Diving with a tasseled scorpionfish
References
Tasseled scorpionfish Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA