SCORPAENIDAE


Scorpaenopsis oxycephala
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)



Scorpaenopsis oxycephala, 17.5 cm SL
(from North Sulawesi, Indonesia; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Scorpaenopsis oxycephala
(Bleeker, 1849)
Smallscale Scorpionfish

D XII, 9; A III, 5; P1 18-20; P2 I, 5; LLp 23-24; LR 59-67; GR 4-6 + 11-13.

Body elongate, slightly compressed posteriorly. Interorbital space narrow, its width 5.7-7.0 in head length. Upper posttemporal and upper opercular spines simple. Occipital pit absent or very shallow. Third dorsal-fin spine longest, its length 2.1-2.5 in head length. Color: body color variable, mottled with dark reddish to brownish blotches. Size: maximum length 34 cm SL. Distribution: widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from South Africa east to New Guinea, and southern Japan south to northern Australia. Remarks: occurs in shallow rocky and coral reefs to a depth of 43 m.