Sealife guideThe common stonefishSynanceia verrucosa

Last updated on 02/15/2024 at 11:45 PM

Taxonomy

Common name: Common stonefish, reef stonefish
French name: Poisson pierre commun, synancée verruqueuse
Spanish name: Pez piedra común
Scientific name: Synanceia verrucosa (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Family name: Synanceiidae
Order name: Perciformes
Class name: Actinopterygii

Description

The common stonefish is an expert of camouflage with its brown or grey coloration potentially dotted with numerous irregular yellowish, orange or red spots. A panoply of colors that gives it the appearance of a stone, even a crusted rock or a block of coral !

The common stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) © David Sanford | Dreamstime.com

The common stonefish has an ovoid body with a total length of around thirty centimeters long. Its mouth is oriented upwards and its dorsal fin is equipped with 13 very strong defensive spines capable of injecting a very powerful poison.

Geographic range

The common stonefish is widely distributed in the warm tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea.

It is found in Australia around the Great Barrier Reef and along the eastern coasts of Queensland to the far north of New South Wales.

Habitat

The common stonefish generally frequents rocky or coral bottoms where it lives hidden in crevices or under rocky ledges but it can also be found on sandy bottoms where it buries itself using its large pectoral fins.

Diet

The common stonefish feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans, which it hunts by camouflaging itself in its environment.

A stonefish camouflaged at the foot of a pier hunts on the lookout © Ethan Daniels | Dreamstime.com

The main predators of the common stonefish are sharks and rays.

Did you know ?

The common stonefish has dorsal spines capable of injecting an extremely toxic venom.

The speed with which common stonefish capture prey passing close by is impressive !

The common stonefish is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The common stonefish appears in the IUCN Red List since 2018 within the category Least Concern !

Tips for observing

The common stonefish is particularly hard to spot in its environment, so keep an eye out !

The stonefish's art of camouflage ! © Ethan Daniels | Dreamstime.com

Discover also

Chevroned butterflyfish
(Chaetodon trifascialis)

Eastern red scorpionfish
(Scorpaena jacksoniensis)

Palette surgeonfish
(Paracanthurus hepatus)

Royal angelfish
(Pygoplites diacanthus)

Spangled emperor
(Lethrinus nebulosus)

Spotted goatfish
(Pseudupeneus maculatus)

Yellowspotted trevally
(Carangoides fulvoguttatus)

Zebra angelfish
(Genicanthus caudovittatus)

Our latestUpdates

Friday, January 10th 2025

Hvar island

Hvar, a jewel of the Adriatic, captivates with its turquoise waters, wild coves and fragrant lavender fields. Between medieval villages, lively ports, and lush hills, Hvar island offers the perfect mix of relaxation, culture and breathtaking landscapes. Ideal for sun, sea and authentic experiences.

Thursday, January 9th 2025

The lemonpeel angelfish

The lemonpeel angelfish is a small, brightly colored reef fish found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean. It inhabits shallow coral reefs, sheltering among corals and rocky crevices.

Friday, December 19th 2025

The magic of Christmas decorations

Discover Christmas decorations in Florida: giant trees, illuminated palm trees, magical light displays and tropical settings to experience the holiday magic under the sun.

Photo of the Day

Baleine franche australe
(Eubalaena australis)