Rama Rao'S Scorpionfish

Distinct median interorbital ridge. No extra spine anterior to each tympanic spine; occipital pit shallow, not quadrangular. Ridge above anterior lacrimal spine with a pointed tip. Upper opercular spine single, narrow and without a median ridge. Space between opercular spines without ridges. Supraocular tentacle well-developed. Longitudinal scale series 45-49 (Ref 42181).Description: Characterized by dark reddish to brownish grey color, mottled with dark brown; four spines in suborbital ridge; snout 3.2-3.5 in head length; interorbital width 6.4-7.9 in head length; absence of coronal spines; depth of body 2.6-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5

Collected from both silty sand and rocky bottom; also from areas with coral (Ref. 42181).

Collected from both silty sand and rocky bottom; also from areas with coral (Ref. 42181). Inhabits rock or coral bottoms in 1-60 m (Ref 90102).

分布於印度-西太平洋海域：西起於印度及斯里蘭卡至巴布亞新幾內亞，北至台灣。

除學術研究外，經濟價值不大。

體延長，略側扁。標準體長為體高之2.6-3.15倍。頭中大，標準體長為頭長之2.2-2.4倍，棘稜具明顯的鋸齒狀。眼小，頭長為眼徑之5.0-5.35倍 (體形較大標本：4.45-5.0倍)，上側位，眼球高達頭背緣。頭長為眼間距之6.4-7.85倍。口大，端位，斜裂，腭骨延伸至眼眶後側下方。頭長為吻部之3.2-3.45倍。眶下脊具4棘，第一棘位於淚骨上，短小，其角度較其他棘還直立。淚骨第一棘上的脊邊緣尖銳且尖端向上。眼間脊由1深溝於最窄處分開。眼上棘及眼後棘不向側面延長。枕骨凹陷處前緣內彎之處具1短脊與外面1脊連接。鼓棘分開，比眼後棘長。眼眶下具凹陷淺。上鰓蓋棘不分岔。體大部分為櫛鱗；腹部、胸部與胸鰭前下緣為小圓鱗。眼上具觸角，長度大小多變。側線上側位，斜直，後半部平直，末端延伸至尾鰭基部。側線縱鱗列：45-49。背鰭低矮，硬棘與鰭條有鰭膜相連，硬棘部的基底長於軟條部的基底，通常第四-5棘最長，具硬棘 XII，軟條 9；臀鰭具硬棘 III，軟條5；胸鰭圓寬，無鰭條分離，軟條18；腹鰭胸位，延伸至肛門，具硬棘 I，軟條5；體色多變，通常為灰褐色或褐紅色且帶斑駁雜斑。(李承運、林沛立2012/11編寫)

本種主要棲息於岩礁或珊瑚礁環境，水深1-60m。具偽裝能力，時常隱藏身體而不容易被發現，藉以守株待兔般快速捕捉過往之小魚與甲殼動物為食。背鰭鰭棘下具毒腺，是海中危險生物。

Scorpaenopsis ramaraoi, Rama Rao's scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific all the way from Pakistan and Sri Lanka to New Britain to Papua New Guinea.