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Pacific Monkeyfish
Erosa erosa (Langsdorf, 1829)
A Pacific Monkeyfish caught by K. Graham on FRV Kapala, at a depth of 50 m, off Yamba, New South Wales, March 1985 (AMS I.25663-002). Photo: K. Graham © NSW DPI. View larger image.
The Pacific Monkeyfish is a stocky fish with a large head and a distinct bump on the nape. It has white spots distally on the pectoral fins and narrow dark bars on the tail.
It grows to about 14 cm in standard length.
The Pacific Monkeyfish is a benthic species that occurs in tropical inshore and coral reef waters of the Western Pacific.
In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south on the east coast to northern New South Wales.
It has also been called the Daruma Stinger and Pitted Scorpionfish.
Related links
- View the Stonefishes list
- View the family Synanceiidae list
Further reading
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Poss, S.G. Scorpaenidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
