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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads) > Apistidae (Wasp scorpionfishes)
Etymology: Apistus: Greek, apisto = uncertain (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 14 - 60 m (Ref. 30573), usually 15 - 50 m (Ref. 4313). Deep-water, preferred ?

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Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Persian Gulf south to Natal, South Africa and east to India and the Philippines, north to China and Japan, south Australia.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48635); common length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3503)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Bluish grey in color, belly pale; large black spot on rear half of spinous dorsal (Ref. 4313).

Inhabits soft bottoms of the continental shelf. Primarily known from trawls over prawn-grounds but divers looking in suitable habitats can come across them, especially at night. During the day it buries itself deep in the sand with just the eyes exposed. When disturbed, it spreads its long pectoral fins with the bright upper color to deter predators. It uses its fins to corner prey and has sensitive barbels below the mouth to detect those buried in the substrate (Ref. 48635). Fin spines venomous (anterolateral glandular groove with venom gland (Ref. 57406)) (Ref. 30573). Sold in small quantities either fresh or dried and salted in markets. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 57178.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Poss, S.G. and K.V. Rama Rao, 1984. Scorpaenidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Vol. 4. FAO, Rome. pag. var. (Ref. 3503)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Not Evaluated

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Venomous (Ref. 4716)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

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Internet sources

Apistus carinatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)