Ambon Scorpionfish

Description

The Ambon scorpionfish is shaggy, and can change its color for the ideal camouflage. It has a wide head with a large mouth, and large pectoral fins.

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 6. This species is distinguished by the following characters: A II,6; dorsal-fin spines flexible, bend easily under slight pressure; snout is relatively short, 12.3-17.0% (mean 14.3%) of SL, it is shorter than postorbital length; posterior margin of maxilla reaching to or extending beyond vertical through middle of pupil; the distance between tips of lateral lacrimal and the first suborbital spines is shorter than or subequal to that between tips of first and second suborbital spines; no supplemental preopercular spine; tentacles on supraocular and posterior lacrimal spines are well developed, their lengths greater than orbit diameter; trunk and fins with numerous tentacles; lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines are poorly developed, indistinct, usually tiny spines and often bony protuberances without pointed tips; absence of distinct black blotch on soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin.

Distribution and habitat

The Ambon scorpionfish lives just offshore on the bottom of the ocean. The oceans in which it lives include: coasts on the west pacific, such as Australia and Fiji, coasts on the Indian Ocean, the Red sea, and the Yellow Sea.

Behavior

The Ambon scorpionfish is an ambush predator. It will camouflage itself, wait for some prey to come close in front of itself, and then lunge forward and inhale the prey. They have poisonous spikes on their back that they raise when threatened. The spikes are on the back, head, and around the eyes. They can cause death.