![]() For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. Scorpionfish venom is still more than unpleasant - either way, you’re at a loss and the injured party.A.D.A.M., Inc. So, if you see a fish that looks like a stone, it’s probably a scorpionfish, as stonefish are really hard to spot - don't try to find out though, as even though they are not aggressive, stonefish venom can kill you. Fortunately, stonefishes (or nohu in Tahitian) do not patrol Hawaiian waters, although people have mistakenly called the larger Hawaiian species stonefishes. Stonefish can grow up to 40cm long and are bigger than scorpionfish. The most dangerous of them is the stonefish, which has caused fatalities from wounding humans with its spines. As they live on the seafloor, both have no swim bladder, and both reproduce by laying orange clusters of eggs among seaweed and rocks. Neither of them is a particularly good looking fish, but the stonefish always looks as if it were in a bad mood, whereas scorpionfish seem in much better form, almost smiling. Both have a very wide mouth that can swallow surprisingly large prey such as crustaceans and fish in one go. Stonefish eyes are smaller and hard to notice while scorpionfish eyes stick out as if on stalks, positioned a bit further down the body. Both fish have large heads with armoured bony plates and spines and a bony ridge across their cheeks, but a stonefish does not look like a fish from above but more like a rock, while the scorpionfish still looks like a fish. Their tails also differ, with the stonefish tail curled to one side, whereas the scorpionfish has a straight tail. Stonefish spines, however, are positioned much more prominently than on a scorpion fish dorsal fin, and they are thicker. They have a “sit and wait” strategy, grabbing whatever comes along that looks tasty enough to eat, but scorpionfish are much more skittish while stonefish will only move away slowly when disturbed.īoth have characteristic spines on their dorsal fins that contain venom inside which causes excruciating pain and damage to an unsuspecting victim. They are so confident of their camouflaging skills that they will not move when approached, only moving their eyes to inspect a threat. ![]() ![]() Stonefish disguise themselves very well by burying themselves in the sand (looking like a rock, hence the name stonefish) while scorpionfish have fantastic camouflaging ability and are able to replicate the pattern of their surroundings. There are several features that both fish share, but several that distinguish the two. ![]() ![]() Both fish are hard to spot and avoid, making them dangerous to divers, swimmers and snorkelers, but they are a photographers dream when they are finally located as they do not scare easily. While stonefish are highly venomous and considered the world’s most venomous fish with a killer sting, scorpionfish do not share this killer reputation, even though a sting with their less potent venom is not pleasant either. Both belong to the order Scorpaeniformes – mail-cheeked fishes - including 36 families and over 1,600 species such as lionfish, gurnards and even the cute (in my opinion) lumpsuckers. I often get confused between stonefish and scorpionfish and need to remind myself what the differences between them are. ![]()
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