The spotted scorpionfish is a spiny-headed robust scorpionfish • Dorsal fin having 12 spines and 9 ½ soft rays . • Pectoral fin with 18-21 fin rays. • Venom glands are associated with the dorsal fin spines • Scorpionfish have extremely potent venom in their sharp spines • This make them one of the most poisonous animals in the ocean. These fishes remain mostly stationary during daylight, but are active at night. 2. External anatomy of a scorpaenid fish: (1) Spinous dorsal fin, (2) spine of dorsal fin, (3) lateral line, (4) soft-rayed dorsal fin, (5) caudal fin, (6) spinous anal fin, (7) soft-rayed pectoral fin, (8) gill cover, (9) suborbital ridge 3. 4. They are called rockfish or stonefish because they commonly live among rocks 5. Scorpionfish are perchlike fish with large, spiny heads.Types of scorpion fishes 1. Stone fish 2. Loin fish 3. Scorpaena 4. Black scorpion fish 5. Weedy scorpion fish 6. Scorpaenopsis 7. Dendrochirus 8. Rhinopias 9. weever Unique Facts 1. Scorpionfish have extremely potent venom in their sharp spines 2. Scorpionfish tend to live near the surface 2,625 feet (800 m) deep. 3. Scorpionfish are about 8 inches (20 cm) long on average , 4. Scorpionfish blend in perfectly with their coral and rocky surroundings because of their mottled color patterns. 5. Scorpionfish are solitary and only congregate for mating.

1. UNIVERSITY OF CHAKWAL
Pakistan

2. UNIVERSITY OF CHAKWAL
Submitted by : Talala yaqoob
Session: 2020 – 2024
Reg no.: 20M-UOC / ZOL-06
Topic name: Scorpion fish
Semester : 8th
Submitted to: Dr.Nadia Ahmad
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

3. Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Anatomy of scorpion fish
3. Taxonomy
4. Distribution and habitat
5. Types of scorpion fish
6. Venome
7. unique facts
8. Health benefits
9. Conclusion and refrences

4. Introduction
• The spotted scorpionfish is
a spiny-headed robust scorpionfish
• Dorsal fin having 12 spines and 9 ½
soft rays .
• Pectoral fin with 18-21 fin rays.
• Venom glands are associated with
the dorsal fin spines
• Scorpionfish have extremely potent
venom in their sharp spines
• This make them one of the most
poisonous animals in the ocean
Fig1.1plumed scorpion fish
https://www.britannica.com/animal/scor
pion-fish

5. Anatomy of scorpion fish
1. These fishes remain mostly stationary during
daylight, but are active at night.
2. External anatomy of a scorpaenid fish: (1)
Spinous dorsal fin, (2) spine of dorsal fin, (3)
lateral line, (4) soft-rayed dorsal fin, (5) caudal
fin, (6) spinous anal fin, (7) soft-rayed pectoral
fin, (8) gill cover, (9) suborbital ridge
3.
4. They are called rockfish or stonefish because
they commonly live among rocks
5. Scorpionfish are perchlike fish with large,
spiny heads
(Sindhu .R and Bhatt .S 2024)
Fig 1.2: scorpion fish
Https://www.Sciencedirect.Com/topics/a
gricultural-and-biological-sciences/scorp
aenidae

6. Taxonomy of scorpion fish
Domain eukaryote
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Suborder : Scorpaenoidei
Family : Scorpaenidae
(K wibowo 2022)
Fig. 1.3: yellow spotted scorpion fish
www.liverocknreef.com/catalog/rhinowa
spscorpion-and-leaf-fish/yellow-spotted-s
corpion-synanceia-sp

7. Distribution and habitat
Members of this fish family are commonly found in the Indian and South
Pacific Oceans
Coral reefs provide the perfect space for a scorpionfish to hide and hunt for
prey and also avoid any potential predators brave enough to take a bite.
Scorpionfishes can be found in marine, estuarine and even fresh waters.
Species, such as the Idiotfishes are found on the deep ocean floor down to
2200 m.
Others swim in the oceanic midwaters. Most species, however, live in coral
or rocky reefs.
( L.John 2024)

8. Types of scorpion fishes
1. Stone fish
2. Loin fish
3. Scorpaena
4. Black scorpion fish
5. Weedy scorpion fish
6. Scorpaenopsis
7. Dendrochirus
8. Rhinopias
9. weever
(K.Mochizuki 2024)
Fig 1.4 : stone fish and loin fish
https://oceaninfo.com/compare/lionfish-
vs-stonefish/
Fig 1.5 :weever
https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/21
458/greater_weever.html

9. Venom of scorpion fish
The venom apparatus is composed of
12–13 rays of the dorsal fin
Three rays of the anal fin and two rays
of the pelvis spines
There spines possess venomous
glandular tissue .
It can causes intense, excruciating
pain
( Yousef Zaki2024)
Fig 1.6 : loin fish
https://www.poison.org/articles/
how-to-treat-a-lionfish-sting-202

10. Unique Facts
1. Scorpionfish have extremely potent venom
in their sharp spines
2. Scorpionfish tend to live near the surface
2,625 feet (800 m) deep.
3. Scorpionfish are about 8 inches (20 cm) long
on average ,
4. Scorpionfish blend in perfectly with their
coral and rocky surroundings because of
their mottled color patterns.
5. Scorpionfish are solitary and only
congregate for mating.1
(IR Barranco2024)
Fig 1.7: red scorpion fish
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/f
ishes/eastern-red-scorpionfish-scorpaena-
cardinalis/

11. Behaiviour of scorpion
fish
• Scorpionfish are exceptional
sit-and-wait predators.
• Scorpionfish only hunt at night and
spend daylight hours resting in
crevices.
• They will remain in the shadows of
rocks or reefs.
• Their diet consists of small fish,
crustaceans and snails that also live
in coral reefs.
• They live in marine and freshwater
• (SL Mongolon 2024)
Fig 1.8: scorpaena jacksoniensis
https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/
3652

12. Health benefits
1. Red scorpionfish is a lean fish (4% lipids) that
contains little fat .
2. They have significant amounts of Omega 3 fatty
acids,
3. They reducing the levels of triglycerides and
cholesterol in the blood, thus protecting the heart
and blood vessels.
4. This fish is also rich in minerals.
5. Scorpion fish is rich in protein (19 grams per 100)
,and contains several minerals in large quantities,
particularly potassium, calcium ,iron and magnesium

13. Interesting facts
1. The inside of the pectoral fins have large white
spots or blotches on a black background.
2. The pectoral fins are extended to display bright
white spots when the fish is disturbed.
3. The teeth of the spotted scorpionfish are small
4. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a
type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines
coated with venomous mucus
(IR Barranco 2024)
Fig 1.10: weedy scorpion fish
https://www.britannica.com/animal/scorpion-fi
sh

14. conclusion
The conclusion of scorpion fish revolves around their importance in marine ecosystems,
their unique adaptations, and their potential threats. They play crucial role as both
predator and prey contributing to the balance of their habitats their venomous spines
serve as defence mechanism against predators,but also pose danger to humans if not
handled carefully

15. Refrences
1. Matsumoto, T., & Motomura, H. (2024). Taxonomic review of the Neomerinthe bucephalus
species group (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae), with description of a new species from
Vanuatu. Ichthyological Research, 71(1), 13-39.
2. Wibowo, K., & Motomura, H. (2022). Review of Indo-Pacific species of the scorpionfish
genus Scorpaena (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species from
the west coast of Australia. Ichthyological Research, 69(2), 199-235.
3. John, L., Santon, M., & Michiels, N. K. (2024). Scorpionfish adjust skin pattern contrast on
different backgrounds. Ecology and Evolution, 14(3), e11124.
4. Mochizuki, K., & Motomura, H. (2024). Distributional Range Extension of the Shallow Water
Scorpionfish Parascorpaena poseidon (Perciformes: Scorpaenidae), with a Revised
Diagnosis of the Species. Species Diversity, 29(1), 91-98.
5. Yousef Zaki, B., Elsaeed, I. M., & Youssef, H. (2024). Two Shades of Marine Life. Medicine
Updates.
6. Mogollón, S. L., Zilio, M. I., Buitrago, E. M., Caraballo, M. Á., & Yñiguez, R. (2024). Economic
impact of Rugulopteryx okamurae (Dictyotales, Ochrophyta) along the Andalusian
coastline: the case of Tarifa, Spain. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 32(1), 19-32.

16. THANK YOU