About Scorpaena sumptuosa Castelnau, 1875
Distinguishing Morphological Features
Scorpaena sumptuosa differs from most other Indo-Pacific Scorpaena species by having a maxillary ridge, a very deep occipital pit, thickened skin with many pores near the lateral line that covers the opercular spine, and two pairs of slender tentacles on the front of the lower jaw.
Pectoral Fin Ray Count
It has 16 fin rays in its pectoral fin.
Related Species Comparison
This species is closely related to the ghost scorpionfish (Scorpaena gasta), but grows larger, has fewer tentacles on its flanks, and shows more variable colouration.
Maximum Length
It reaches a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in).
Body Shape
It is a deep-bodied species with a distinct hump on the shoulder.
Camouflage Adaptations
Tentacles cover its body, breaking up the body outline to provide camouflage, and its eyes are positioned high on the head.
Coloration
Its colour ranges from mottled red to brown, and is marked with two wide vertical bands on the body that extend out onto the fins.
Distribution Range
Scorpaena sumptuosa is endemic to Western Australia, where it occurs from Shark Bay in the north to Albany in the south.
Habitat and Depth
It inhabits coastal reefs at depths of up to 60 m (200 ft).
