Stone scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis neglecta) is a saltwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan. It is mainly found over sand, mud, at depths of 0–40 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan runs spring, summer.
Scientific name: Scorpaenopsis neglecta · Water: Saltwater · Season: Spring, Summer
Size: up to 19 cm
The Stone scorpionfish is a skin-fringed scorpaenid with venomous spines, so take real care when unhooking and handling one. Hong Kong calls it shek sung. Solitary and found on open sand and mud of the continental shelf, it is in season in spring and summer and reaches about 19 cm standard length, with a fishing vulnerability of 39 out of 100 and medium population recovery. It is a common winter catch for rock and boat anglers off north-eastern and western Taiwan and Penghu, taken on light rock or drop rigs with shrimp or squid strip, and it is prized for soup. Most landings come from trawlers.
The nape and the front of the body are highly arched, giving it a humpbacked look, and there is a wide space between the eyes; the dorsal fin carries 12 spines and 9 soft rays, the anal fin 3 spines and 5 soft rays. A serrated ridge runs above the eye, and the pterotic, lower posttemporal and second suborbital spines are replaced by serrated ridges; the nuchal spine has one or two supplemental spines, and the forward ridge of the lacrimal bone is serrated. The pattern is made up of blotches and mottling that camouflage it, with a dark reddish band across the outer part of the tail just in from the margin and frequently a yellowish patch on the gill cover. The inner surface of the pectoral fin has no dark spots but does have a black band across the upper rays near their tips, with small dark spots where the fin joins the body. It ranges from India and Sri Lanka east to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia, where it is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Wollongong in New South Wales. It lives on rock and coral reefs in shallow water as well as on sand and mud, and is normally solitary.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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