| Western red scorpionfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Scorpaeninae |
| Genus: | Scorpaena |
| Species: | Scorpaena sumptuosa Castelnau 1875[1] |
Western red scorpionfish (Scorpaena sumptuosa) is a species of marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae. It is colored bright red to pale brown, around 400 millimeters in length, and has tassel-like appendages that aid its camouflage. This species lies in ambush, motionless and disguised amongst corals, where it awaits prey which it sucks into its large and quick mouth. A row of poisonous spines are found along the dorsal region which it is able to make erect when threatened.[2]
Scorpaena sumptuosa is also known as the Western red scorpionfish, or scorpioncod. The species is endemic to the coast of Southwest Australia, in a range extending from Esperance, Western Australia to Point Quobba. Scorpaena sumptuosa is not as toxic to humans as the stonefish of the same region, but able to cause a painful sting.