Skip to main content

Black Scorpionfish

Scorpaena porcus

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

42.5862, 18.2163

Field Notes

Description:

This venomous scorpionfish is about 15-20cm in length, mainly mottled grey-brown and extremely well camouflaged fish. It presents large and broad head with upwardly angled mouth. It sports number of tentacles on the head, and many spikes on dorsal fins.

Habitat:

Black scorpionfish is relatively common fish in Adriatic sea, living on the bottom of the sea up to 100m. Here, photographed in Bay of Cavtat (Dubrovnik riviera). Rocks here are reaching the surface, providing many hiding places, slopping down to 10m gradually. The sea bottom here is rocky, creating many crevasses and tunnels, and rocks are abundantly covered in algae. In those deeper waters, there are some large colonies of sea grass settled on patches of sand.

Notes:

As mentioned above, Black scorpionfish is venomous - three first spines on dorsal fins and spines on each side of the head carry venom, and their sting causes intense pain and swelling. Here, the local fishermen say that the wound should be soaked in the hottest water the person can stand for 30 to 90 minutes.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment

Sign in to comment

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon