Fish
Black Scorpionfish
Scorpaena porcus
On a rock in a shallow Mediterranean bay, a black scorpionfish lies so perfectly hidden that a diver might put a hand on it before noticing.
Overview
The black scorpionfish, Scorpaena porcus, is a Least Concern scorpionfish of rocky shores and seagrass beds in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the eastern Atlantic. Its camouflage, ambush hunting, and venomous spines make it the main stinger of Mediterranean rocky shores.
A fish you hope not to touch
Because the black scorpionfish is so well camouflaged, most stings happen when someone puts a hand or foot on a rock where one is lying.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Black Scorpionfish: common questions
Is the black scorpionfish venomous?
Yes, it has venomous spines along its dorsal fin and on its gill covers, which cause a very painful sting if it is touched or trodden on.
How does it hide?
Its mottled body and fleshy flaps break up its outline and make it look like part of the rock.
How does it hunt?
It lies motionless on rock and weed and lunges to seize small fish, crabs, and shrimps that come within range.
Where is the black scorpionfish found?
It lives on rocky shores and in seagrass in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and in the eastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to West Africa.