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Project Noah Nature School
Scorpaena maderensis
This is medium sized and reddish scorpionfish of about 15cm in length. It is easily recognized by three whitish vertical large bands on the caudal fin (tail) and just before it. It presents a finer head than other scorpionfishes, with upwardly angled mouth. It sports number of tentacles on the head, and many spikes on dorsal fins - some of these spikes are venomous.
Members of genus Scorpaena are common bottom-dwellers in Adriatic sea. Here, photographed in Bay of Cavtat, on popular beaches of Dubrovnik riviera. Rocks here are reaching the surface, providing many hiding places, slopping down to 10m gradually. The sea bottom here is rocky, creating many crevasses and tunnels, and rocks are abundantly covered in algae. In those deeper waters, there are some large colonies of sea grass settled on patches of sand.
As mentioned above, scorpionfishes are venomous - few of spines on dorsal fins and spines on each side of the head carry venom, and their sting causes intense pain and swelling. Here, the local fishermen say that the wound should be soaked in the hottest water the person can stand for 30 to 90 minutes.
Spotted on Aug 4, 2022
Submitted on Aug 22, 2022
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