Raggy Scorpionfish

Adults are best recognized by the tiny light-blue ocelli scattered over the body, and dark triangle below the eye. Small juveniles have three distinctive white spots along the back (Ref. 48635). A deep quadrangular occipital pit, its anterior edge, as viewed dorsally, with a slight ridge. A low ridge on each side of pit between tympanic and parietal spines. Pectoral rays strongly modally at 17 (Ref 42181).Description: Characterized by mottled grey to brownish red color with large obscure dark blotches and with few isolated white spots or blotches; single upper opercular spine; moderately long snout, 3.0-3.2 in head length; interorbital width 6.5-7.6 in head length; prominent fringed fleshy flaps on chin; numerous small tentacles, flaps and cirri on head, body and fins; presence of tentacle above the eye, up to twice orbit diameter in length; depth of body 2.7-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5

Occurs in inshore waters of the continental shelf (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits coastal reefs (Ref. 9710); usually taken by diving in protected areas of bays or lagoons, often where the fish can be well camouflaged in areas of algae, seagrass or sponge (Ref. 42181, 48635). Venomous spines. Occurs along continental margins or islands associated with continents, not at true oceanic islands (Ref 90102).

分布於印度-西太平洋海域：由南非、印度至澳洲昆士蘭及澳洲西岸，北至日本。

除學術研究外，經濟價值不大。

體延長，略側扁。標準體長為體高之2.7-3.15倍。頭中大，標準體長為頭長之2.3-2.5倍，棘稜具明顯的鋸齒狀。眼小，頭長為眼徑之4.7-5.2倍 (體形較大標本：4.45-5.0倍)，上側位，眼球高達頭背緣。頭長為眼間距之6.5-7.55倍。口大，端位，斜裂，腭骨延伸至眼眶後側下方。吻部稍延長，頭長為吻長之3.0-3.2倍。眶下脊具4棘，第一棘位於淚骨上，短小，其角度較其他棘還直立。淚骨前緣具1脊，具1棘平行延伸超過腭骨，具後棘常被1大的羽狀皮瓣遮蓋。眼間脊稍發達，由1深溝所分開並延伸至枕骨邊緣。眼上棘及眼後棘不向側面延長。中間眼間脊發達，始於兩鼻孔之間後側至眼間距。枕骨凹陷深且呈四角形，前緣崎嶇，經過眼後棘之間。鼓棘分開，約與眼後棘等長或1/2長，鼓棘與眼後棘皆位於枕骨凹陷前端，鼓棘與頂棘之間具1低矮脊，兩頂棘之間後側有時具1脊。眼眶下具寬廣凹陷，延伸至淚骨骨突(或脊)之處，前鼻孔之前。上鰓蓋棘不分岔。鰓蓋棘之間具鱗片。眼上通常具羽狀觸角，頦部具指狀皮瓣，頭部、體側及各鰭皆具許多小觸角、皮瓣及肉瘤。側線上側位，斜直，後半部平直，末端延伸至尾鰭基部。側線縱鱗列：47-52。背鰭低矮，硬棘與鰭條有鰭膜相連，硬棘部的基底長於軟條部的基底，通常第三棘最長，具硬棘 XII，軟條 9；臀鰭具硬棘 III，軟條5；胸鰭圓寬，無鰭條分離，軟條15-18；腹鰭胸位，延伸至肛門，具硬棘 I，軟條5；體色多變，通常為灰褐色或褐紅色，體側通常具斑塊覆蓋，具1個或少數白色斑點或斑塊，通常大多位於背鰭基部。(李承運、林沛立2012/11編寫)

本種棲息於內灣或潟湖至大陸棚地區，偶見於大陸邊緣島嶼，以岩礁、碎石堆或海藻或海草茂盛之處等環境為主，水深2-95m。具偽裝能力，時常隱藏身體而不容易被發現，藉以守株待兔般快速捕捉過往之小魚與甲殼動物為食。背鰭鰭棘下具毒腺，是海中危險生物。

Scorpaenopsis venosa, the raggy scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific.

Venomous spines.