Scorpion Fish

Scorpionfish are bottom-dwelling fish that have also been called rockfish or stonefish. There are more than 200 known species of scorpionfish in the ocean. Scorpionfish are covered in feathery fins or skin flaps that help with camouflage against surrounding coral.

Scorpionfish are also equipped with spines containing dangerous venom. When the spines pierce a predator, the venom is injected immediately at the point of contact. A sting from one of these spines can be potentially fatal to other animals and extremely painful to humans.

Scorpionfish are exceptional sit-and-wait predators. Scorpionfish only hunt at night and spend daylight hours resting in crevices. A scorpionfish’s mouth is wide in size, which allows the fish to quickly suck and swallow prey whole in one bite. Scorpionfish can also use their venom to stun prey before eating them.

Most scorpionfish species are less than two feet in size and have a lifespan of 15 years.