Scorpaenopsis diabolus
False Stonefish
No‘u RR
f.SCORPAENIDAE
Scorpionfishes
sf.Scorpaeninae
Scorpaenopsis diabolus
False Stonefish
No‘u RR
f.SCORPAENIDAE
Scorpionfishes
sf.Scorpaeninae
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesFalse Stonefish EN , Devil Scorpionfish EN Humpback Scorpionfish EN Stonefish EN , Buckel‑Drachenkopf DE Poisson Cirrheux FR Poisson‑scorpion Diable FR
Local NamesNo‘uRR,MG,MK,MT,AK NouAT,PK NohuTNs,TNw
Pacific NamesNohu Tarao / Nohu Pua TAH
Sci. NamesScorpaenopsis diabolus (accepted name)
, Scorpaena diabolus
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, spc.Fishes, c.Bony Fishes, f.Scorpionfishes - Bony Fish
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.PISCES, c.OSTEICHTHYES, o.Scorpaeniformes, so.Scorpaenoidei, f.SCORPAENIDAE, sf.Scorpaeninae
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRRPMGPAT?MK?MT?AK?PL?MN?TK?
Nth. PresenceTN?MH?RK?PKPNS?SW?
VouchersRR1988
MG2000
PK2004
Local OriginNative; Resident
Global RangeNative: e.Africa - Marquesas/Tuamotu, Hawai‘i; n. to s.Japan; s. to GBR;
HabitatAquatic; Marine; Nearshore
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusHarmful - serious; injects venom
UsesNo Content
IdentificationTo 24cm SL. A well-camouflaged bottom-dwelling fish. When disturbed it displays the orange underside (=innerside) of its Pectoral fins. It is speckled and mottled from pale grey to dark brown. It has a distinctive hump which is often dark brown; and more...the tail has a distinctive pale band and pale tip. The eyes are close set and bulbous. When disturbed is erects a series of thick venomous dorsal spines.
Similar SpeciesScorpaenopsis macrochir is very similar, but smaller max. SLmore... 14cm (vs. 24cm); and it has pectoral fin inner side joint pale with small black spots (vs. dark without black spots), orange without pale or yellow median band (vs. yellow or pale median band), margin orange (vs. grey); submarginal black band is continuous (vs. black spots only on membranes 3-7); mouth not strongly oblique 40-50° to horizontal (vs. strongly oblique, 60-70°).
Interest NoteScorpionfish have venomous spines that easily penetrate the more...toughest feet. They are, however, not as toxic as their cousins, the Stonefish. The venom is usually injected by the dorsal spines, although the anal and pelvic spines are equally poisonous. Each dorsal spine has a small venom sac and a groove to enable the venom to be injected. As soon as possible bath the wounds in hot water to promote destruction of the protein toxin. IMPORTANT do NOT burn yourself - the hot water should be tolerable on a non-injured limb. Seek medical help. The toxin is a protein which means that sliced green papaya is useful because it has a high concentration of a efficient protein-digesting enzyme, called Papain.
Show All Notes
Multimedia & Other Resources
Click on a thumbnail to see the full image and image details.
Vernacular Names
no data available
Threatened
no data available
Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
no data available
Species Uses
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.04.24 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
Please refer to our use policy.
Saved Species
X of 20
- Save Species