Rough-Head Stingfish

The Rough-Head Stingfish, scientifically known as Minous trachycephalus, is a marine demersal species commonly found at depths ranging from 9 to 112 meters, with a maximum length of approximately 12 centimeters.

This species is characterized by its distinctive dorsal spines, numbering between 10 and 11, and dorsal soft rays, ranging from 8 to 10. Additionally, it possesses 2 anal spines and between 7 and 9 anal soft rays.

The Rough-Head Stingfish predominantly inhabits the soft bottoms of the continental shelf and is classified as a benthic organism. It is known for its secretive nature and is typically discovered incidentally due to its habit of burying itself in the sand during daylight hours. This species is usually found in shallow, sheltered environments with sparse seagrass beds and remains on the sand surface at night. It is also observed in sandy or muddy bottom habitats at depths ranging from 10 to 50 meters.

Geographically, the Rough-Head Stingfish is widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific region. Its range extends from the 🌊 Red Sea and 🇲🇬 Madagascar eastward to 🇻🇺 Vanuatu and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France), and northward to northern 🇦🇺 Australia and the Gulf of Thailand.