Bandfin Scorpionfish

A broad dark band across soft portion of anal and pelvic fins. Maxilla extending posterior to a vertical at rear edge of orbit. Interorbital ridges low, flaring laterally to base of tympanic spines; no median interorbital ridge. Occipital pit shallow, its anterior edge inwardly curved. A small but deep suborbital pit. Suborbital ridge with 4 retrorse spines, the first on lacrimal; posterior points divided into 2 points (except in young). Supraocular tentacle varying from smaller than spine to as long as orbit diameter. Upper opercular spine usually double (may be divided into 3 or 4 points); lower opercular spine usually single (rarely double) (Ref. 42181).Description: Characterized by mottled grey to brownish red color; interorbital width 5.7-6.5 in head length; depth of body 2.7-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 24

Inhabits coral reefs and areas with rubble bottom (Ref. 42181).

分布於印度 -太平洋區海域，由紅海和東非的社會群島，包括日本、台灣及澳大利亞等。臺灣產自小琉球(NMMB-P7038)。

小型魚類，除學術研究外，不具經濟價值。

背鰭具硬棘 XII，軟條 8；臀鰭具硬棘 III，軟條5；體側胸鰭軟條各18枚；縱向鱗列 41；具細孔側線鱗 19；側線上部鱗 7；側線下部鱗 13；第六背鰭棘基與側線間鱗列5；最後背鰭棘基底與側線間鱗列5；背鰭前鱗列6；鰓耙 3+8=11。體前部側扁，愈往體後部愈側扁。口大，斜裂，約與頭、體之橫軸形成20度斜角。上頜骨後緣與眶後緣，正好在同一垂直平面上。鋤骨齒板形成V形區，有少許牙齒；無腭齒。鼻棘結構簡單，往背側延伸，其長度幾等於後鼻徑。前上頜之向上突起未延至眼間隔，向上突起之後緣未超過後鼻孔後緣。無中央眼間稜；眼間稜不發達；眼間隔窄淺，其寬度小於眼徑。眶前棘與眶上棘短小；眶後棘結構簡單，大於眶上棘，於基底連接鼓室棘；無冠狀棘或鼓室前棘；枕骨窩頗淺，前緣不明顯，而且後彎；頂骨與頸背棘於基底相連；蝶耳骨具有2根小棘；眶後具有2根小棘；翼耳骨，以及上、下後顳棘結構簡單；上匙骨棘有1棘突；淚稜延伸至前方而且平滑；側淚棘構簡單；前淚棘結構簡單，往前腹延伸；後淚棘結構簡單，但前緣有一不明顯的隆起；後淚棘與1短毛瓣相連，其後部藉由鬚皮與頭部相連；後淚棘大於前淚棘。眶下稜具有3根棘(2根棘位於頭部左側)；具有眶下窩；前鰓具有5棘，頂棘最大，具有前副鰓棘，下方4根棘頗鈍，結構簡單；上鰓棘有2個皮突，無中央稜；下鰓棘結構簡單，具有強壯的中央稜。

棲息於珊瑚礁區，棲息深度在2-28公尺間。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 vittapinna, the bandfin scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific from South Africa up to the Red Sea and as far as to French Polynesia, as well as north to Japan and south to Australia.