Spiny Devilfish

Inimicus didactylus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Synanceiidae
Genus: Inimicus
Species: Inimicus didactylus

The spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) is a bizarre, venomous scorpionfish with a lumpy, mottled body, upturned eyes and brightly banded pectoral fins that it flashes when disturbed.

It grows to about 25 cm and buries itself in sand, ambushing small fish. It uses finger-like pectoral rays to walk slowly along the bottom. Its spines are highly venomous.

The spiny devilfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a classic muck-diving find on sandy slopes.