Lionfish & Scorpionfish

Marine Life / Lionfish & Scorpionfish

The venomous masters of camouflage and display, from flamboyant lionfish to hidden scorpionfish.

• Ambon scorpionfish Pteroidichthys amboinensis

  The Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) is a master of camouflage with skin flaps and tall eye tentacles that make it look like algae.

• Twinspot Lionfish Dendrochirus biocellatus

  The twinspot lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) is a small, shy lionfish with two eye-spots on its dorsal fin and feathery tentacles around its face.

• Gurnard Lionfish Parapterois heterura

  The gurnard lionfish (Parapterois heterura), also called the blackfoot lionfish, is a sand-dwelling lionfish with huge, fan-like pectoral fins that flash vivid blue and black when spread.

• Red Lionfish Pterois volitans

  The red lionfish (Pterois volitans), also called the common lionfish, is a striking red-and-white striped fish with long, fan-like fins and venomous spines.

• Shortfin Lionfish Neochirus brachyptera

  The shortfin lionfish or dwarf lionfish (Neochirus brachyptera, long known as Dendrochirus brachypterus) is a small, stocky lionfish with broad, banded pectoral fins.

• Barchin Scorpionfish Sebastapistes strongia

  The barchin scorpionfish (Sebastapistes strongia) is a small, mottled scorpionfish with a dark bar across its chin and a scatter of pale and reddish blotches that break up its outline.

• Papuan Scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis papuensis

  The Papuan scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis papuensis) is a mottled scorpionfish with skin flaps and a humped back, coloured red, brown or grey to match the reef.

• Spiny Devilfish 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.

• Spotfin Lionfish Pteropterus antennatus

  The spotfin lionfish (Pteropterus antennatus), long known as Pterois antennata, is a lionfish with dark-spotted membranes on its feathery pectoral fins and long, banded tentacles above its eyes.