Madeira Rockfish

Description:

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.

Habitat:

Small red scorpionfish is relatively common fish in Adriatic sea, living on the bottom of the sea, down to 200m on depth. Here, photographed in Bay of Cavtat (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.

Notes:

1. 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. 2. I had to include this pic in 'Plastic Pollution' mission as well even though I would rather not... The plastic lid in front of the fish was taken away, of course, as we always do when snorkelling, but unfortunately, and it breaks mu heart to say this, this is becoming new normal on out coast, quite like anyplace else... 3. Edit 22.08.2022 - I just realized that I made a mistake in ID of this specimen and corrected it from Small Red Scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata) to Madeira rockfish (S. maderensis).