Scorpionfish

Learn about the distinctive features of the humphead wrasse (Napoleon fish) and the scorpion fish found in the Tuamotu ArchipelagoSee all videos for this article

scorpionfish, also spelled scorpion fish, also called rockfish and stonefish, any of the numerous bottom-living marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae, especially those of the genus Scorpaena, widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters. Sometimes called rockfish or stonefish because they commonly live among rocks, scorpionfish are perchlike fish with large, spiny heads and strong, sometimes venomous, fin spines. The fin spines, with or without venom, can produce deep and painful wounds.

plumed scorpionfish

lionfish

Many scorpionfish are rather dull in colour, but others are brighter—often some shade of red. The largest members of the family grow about 1 metre (39 inches) long. Scorpionfish are carnivorous and generally sedentary. They often lie quietly on the bottom, and many blend closely with their surroundings by virtue of their colouring and (in some species) a variety of flaps and projections on the head and body. Better-known species include the redfish and the highly coloured, venomous lionfish.