Tasseled Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus, commonly referred to as the tasseled scorpionfish or small-scaled scorpionfish, represents a venomous marine ray-finned fish within the Scorpaenidae family, known as the scorpionfishes. This species exhibits a broad distribution across the 🇮🇳 Indian and 🌊 Pacific Oceans and is notable for being the largest within its genus.

The species was initially described in 1849 by the Dutch physician, herpetologist, and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker under the original designation of Scorpaena oxycephalus, with its type locality identified as Jakarta, Java. The specific epithet "oxycephalus" is derived from the Greek terms "oxy," meaning "sharp," and "cephalus," meaning "head," referring to the fish's prominent snout.

Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus possesses an elongated body, which becomes compressed posteriorly and features a narrow interorbital space. The species is characterized by simple upper posttemporal and upper opercular spines, and the occipital pit is either absent or minimal. Notably, the species exhibits a significantly elongated snout and numerous tentacles forming a "beard" around the mouth in mature individuals. It features 12 spines and 9 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 3 spines with 5 soft rays in the anal fin. In adult specimens, the supraocular and postocular spines are broadly merged, revealing only the tip of the supraocular spine, which flares outward to create a ridge above the rear portion of the eye. Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus reaches a maximum recorded total length of 36 cm (14 in), rendering it the largest species within its genus. Aesthetically, the species displays a mottled pattern comprising reddish-brown hues interspersed with white patches, often accompanied by a darker triangular region beneath the eye extending posteriorly over the cheek.

The distribution of Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus is extensive across the Indo-Pacific region, encompassing the 🌊 Red Sea, extending southward to Sodwana Bay in 🇿🇦 South Africa, traversing the 🌊 Indian Ocean and 🌊 Persian Gulf, reaching eastward to 🇵🇬 New Guinea, south to 🇦🇺 Australia, and northward to 🇹🇼 Taiwan and potentially the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan) of southern 🇯🇵 Japan. Within 🇦🇺 Australian marine territories, the species is found on the Northwest Shelf near Western Australia, at Cartier Island in the Timor Sea, and along the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, as well as at Christmas Island. Additional reports indicate its presence in False Bay, 🇿🇦 South Africa. This species occupies reef slopes ranging from depths of 1 to 35 meters.

Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus is a solitary, nocturnal ambush predator, preying primarily on fish and crustaceans. In shallow waters, inadvertent contact with swimmers can result in painful injuries due to the venomous spines. Notably, this species exhibits unique vibrant orange coloration and markings, enhancing its capability to camouflage effectively within rocky reef habitats.