Pteroidichthys amboinensis

Pteroidichthys amboinensis, the Ambon scorpionfish, is a scorpionfish native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Pteroidichthys amboinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Family:
Scorpaenidae
Subfamily:
Scorpaeninae
Genus:
Pteroidichthys
Species:
P. amboinensis
Binomial name
Pteroidichthys amboinensis
Bleeker, 1856

Description

The Ambon scorpionfish is shaggy, and can change its color for the ideal camouflage. It has a wide head with a large mouth, and large pectoral fins.

Ambon scorpionfish near Alor Island, Indonesia

Distribution and habitat

The Ambon scorpionfish lives just offshore on the bottom of the ocean. The oceans in which it lives include: coasts on the west pacific, such as Australia and Fiji, coasts on the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Yellow Sea.

Behavior

The Ambon scorpionfish is an ambush predator. It will camouflage itself, wait for some prey to come close in front of itself, and then lunge forward and inhale the prey. They have poisonous spikes on their back that they raise when threatened. The spikes are on the back, head, and around the eyes. They can cause death.

References


  1. Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. 2016. Pteroidichthys amboinensis . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T69798967A69801012. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69798967A69801012.en. Downloaded on 21 February 2020.
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