Scorpionfish

Description:

Locally known as 'Škrpina' this is one, still unidentified species, of Scorpionfishes present in Adriatic. Scorpionfish has large head with a large mouth, and very distinctive large spiny fins, some of them containing venom. This one was rather smallish, not exceeding 10cm in length, and appeared predominantly light-brown-orange, with vertical large stripes on its body.

Habitat:

Scorpionfishes are common in Adriatic waters, occurring all along Croatian littoral. Here, on a popular beaches in a village of Dubrovnik riviera (Cavtat). The depth in this zone is between 0,5m up to 3m, and then descending sharply down to 10m. 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.

Notes:

Scorpionfishes are venomous, and use those dorsal spines to inject the venom, causing very painful injury. The venom can cause many health issues and can be fatal if not treated. However, it is said that the venom is sensitive to heat; so the usual treatment is to soak the affected limb into hot water (40-42 °C).