Scorpions and toads...

[doctormike]

OK, I always have problems with these guys... maybe because I usually don't have enough of a photo to find the little things that differentiate species. These two are Carribbean dwellers... any ideas?

Mike

 

[divnlite]

Look like scorpion fish to me. No whiskers on the chin like toadfish.

 

[Kim]

Is a toad fish what others would call a stone fish?

 

[maractwin]

Is a toad fish what others would call a stone fish?

No, they are different. A stone fish is similar to a scorpionfish, but more of a shapeless blob. They are well camoflauged, and also have a potentially deadly sting. Toad fish generally don't blend in with their background. They lurk under ledges during the day, and hunt a night.

Scorpionfish: http://www.markrosenstein.com/gallery2/main.php/v/curacao2004/Spotted_Scorpionfish.jpg.html

Toadfish: http://www.markrosenstein.com/gallery2/main.php/v/Cozumel2004/Splendid_Toadfish_1.jpg.html

Stonefish: http://www.markrosenstein.com/gallery2/main.php/v/fiji2005/fish/Reef_Stonefish.jpg.html

-Mark

 

[doctormike]

I'm pretty sure that the first one is a mushroom or spotted scorpionfish, but I was trying to get the exact species. The second one is some sort of toadfish, I think. Again, hard to figure out the exact species, since they are differentiated by pretty minor details. Any ideas?

 

[Rick Murchison]

I'm pretty sure that the first one is a mushroom or spotted scorpionfish, but I was trying to get the exact species. The second one is some sort of toadfish, I think. Again, hard to figure out the exact species, since they are differentiated by pretty minor details. Any ideas?

Both are definitely scorpionfish and not toadfish. They may well both even be the same species of scorpionfish, as coloration varies quite a bit.
Rick

 

[doctormike]

Both are definitely scorpionfish and not toadfish. They may well both even be the same species of scorpionfish, as coloration varies quite a bit.
Rick

OK.. great! now I just need to figure out if this is a mushroom scorpion, a spotted scorpion or something else... the mushrooms are supposed to have these little tags above the eyes... hard to tell.

Thanks for your expertise... I appreciate it!

Mike

 

[maractwin]

Do you recall how large that first scorpionfish was? The mushroom only grows to 3 inches, whereas the spotted scoprionfish is often over a foot long.

-Mark

 

[doctormike]

Do you recall how large that first scorpionfish was? The mushroom only grows to 3 inches, whereas the spotted scoprionfish is often over a foot long.

-Mark

Aha! Now there is useful information...! This was about a foot or so long, so I guess it isn't a mushroom. Does it look like a spotted scorpionfish to you?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[maractwin]

It certainly could be a spotted scorpion. But even the experts have trouble identifying scorpionfish. The colors and skin flaps can't be relied upon, so often the only way to know for sure is to count fin rays. Luckily there aren't many species to choose from in the Caribbean. It's much tougher in the Pacific.

I'd guess spotted scorpion, but wouldn't bet on it.

-Mark