Sculpin Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis cotticeps is a specios of scorpionfishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Description

It has a mottled reddish-brown body, often with a broad pale bar on the body behind the soft dorsal and anal fins, and sometimes a pale 'saddle' on the back below the middle of the dorsal fin. Head profile blunt, eye protruding slightly above dorsal profile of head; lachrymal with 2 spines overlying maxillary (1st spine directed forward and 2nd spine backward), broad postocular and tympanic spines; many small papillae on head. Interorbital ridges elevated posteriorly to join tip of tympanic spines; base of parietal spines not curving into occipital pit; first dorsal spine 1.6-1.9 in second spine.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Japan, Philippines, South China Sea, Queensland (Australia), Seychelles, Somalia, and the Gulf of Aden.

Habitat

It inhabits shallow rocky reefs over rubble and sand bottom. It feeds on small fish, shrimps, invertebrates.