Short Head Stingfish

Description: Characterized by having variable shades of grey and brown color; pectoral fins with faint bands; cheek and pectoral fin base with reddish hue; greyish inner surface of pectoral fin, pale axil with large white spots forming hexagonal pattern; very short first dorsal spine close to others, usually less than one-half the second spine; anal spines difficult to distinguish from soft rays; lowermost pectoral ray free of membrane; poorly developed head spines; two short spines on lacrimal directed downward, longer posterior spine than anterior; depth of body 3.0-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 7 - 9

Occurs over soft bottoms (Ref. 39597) of the continental shelf. Benthic (Ref. 75154). Secretive species, usually found by accident. Buries itself in the sand during the day. Usually in shallow sheltered habitats with sparse seagrass beds. Sits on top of the sand at night (Ref. 48635). Also found in sand or mud bottoms in 10-50 m (Ref 90102).

Occurs over soft bottoms (Ref. 39597) of the continental shelf. Benthic (Ref. 75154). Secretive species, usually found by accident. Buries itself in the sand during the day. Usually in shallow sheltered habitats with sparse seagrass beds. Sits on top of the sand at night (Ref. 48635). Also found in sand or mud bottoms in 10-50 m (Ref 90102).

fisheries: of no interest

分布於西太平洋海域，由臺灣到新加勒多尼亞與澳洲西北部。臺灣除東部外皆有分布。

小型魚類，除學術研究外，不具經濟價值。

體長橢圓形，側扁。頭大，頭高與頭寬幾等長。眼後頂骨部有一橫行凹溝；額骨、頂骨及翼耳骨上有多數小瘤狀突起。眼眶上部有2-4條細長之皮瓣。眶前骨有兩等長之棘。口中大，斜裂，下頜稍突出；腭骨無齒。無鰾。背鰭硬棘較粗壯，具X-XI，背鰭第I棘短於第II棘，該二棘之基部幾乎相連，各棘間之鰭膜缺刻，前半部較深，後半部較淺，軟條8-9；臀鰭硬棘II，軟條7-9；腹鰭I, 5；胸鰭最下方有一游離但不分枝之軟條。體色多變化，體背側灰褐色，腹面白色至淡紅色。背鰭前部外緣黑色；胸鰭大部分黑色，基部灰白色；臀鰭外緣黑色，基部淡紅色；尾鰭有暗色小點。

棲息於近沿海沙泥地或水淺且有遮蔽棲息地的海草床，可以利用胸鰭的游離鰭在海底爬行。具偽裝能力，時常埋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。