Fish
Large Scale Scorpionfish
Scorpaena scrofa
A well-camouflaged, spiny scorpionfish of Cape and Natal reefs, often marked with a dark blotch on the spiny dorsal fin.
Also known as grootskub- goue
- Typical size
- Attains about 30 cm
- Habitat
- Rocky reef and rubble bottoms
- Depth
- 55-90 m
The bigscale scorpionfish is a stout, venomous-spined ambusher that frequently shows a dark spot on the spinous dorsal fin and a small pit on the midline behind the eyes. It reaches about 30 cm.
It occurs from Algoa Bay north to off Natal in roughly 55 to 90 m, lying motionless on reef and rubble where its mottled skin makes it near invisible. Handle with care: the fin spines can deliver a painful sting.