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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > fishes> Family Synanceiidae
Hollow-cheeked stonefish
Synanceia horrida
Family Synanceiidae

updated Oct 2020
if you learn only 3 things about it ...
It is well camouflaged. Look carefully.
It has venomous spines. Don't handle it! Watch your step!
Its venom is only used for protection from predators and not to catch prey.

Where seen? This squat grumpy-looking, ugly fish is, to our discomfort, quite commonly encountered on many of our shores including our recreational beaches. It is particularly abundant near artificial seawalls. It is also present in living reefs and rubbly areas nearby. Resembling a encrusted stone, it is often overlooked. When spotted, however, a stonefish is often the subject of morbid fascination due to its hideous appearance and potent venom. Also called the Estuarine stonefish, it is also found in muddy places and estuaries.

Features:
The fish really looks like a stone. It grows to nearly 50cm, those seen about 15-20cm. The eyes are close together with a bony ridge between them. It has a deep depression below each eye. The huge mouth faces upwards and is curved into a perpetual frown. It has a row of tough dorsal spines that can inject potent venom; these are used for self-defence and not for hunting. The skin is leathery with prominent warts on the sides. During the day, it lies motionless on the sandy bottom, in a shallow depression that it creates by scooping sand out and piling sand around its sides with its huge pectoral fins. It usually lies with its tail curled around the body resulting in stone-like profile. Sometimes the fish is covered in patches of algae and encrustations thus completing its disguise. At night, it is said to be more active and often moves on top of reefs.

Sometimes mistaken for scorpionfishes. Here's more on how to tell apart fishes that look like stones.

Large pectoral fins. Tail curled. Spines up.
Pulau Hantu, Mar 06

Tough spines can penetrate a thick soled shoe!
Pulau Hantu, Mar 06

Deep depressions beneath the eye.
Mouth in perpetual frown.
Raffles Lighthouse, Aug 06
Deadly stone! The stonefish is one of the most dangerous fishes on our shores. It has many tough dorsal fin spines that can penetrate thick soled shoes. These act like hypodermic needles, injecting a venom that can be fatal to humans. Stonefishes produce neurotoxin that is considered the most deadly of the fish venoms. An emergency first aid is to apply heat to break up the toxins. But the victim should be brought to hospital as soon as possible. There are few documented cases of fatalities. The fishes use their spines in self-defence and not for hunting prey.

How painful is the sting of a stonefish? Here's a description:
"I got spiked on the finger by a stonefish in Australia. Imagine having each knuckle, then the wrist, elbow and shoulder being hit in turn with a sledgehammer over the course of about an hour. Then about an hour later imagine taking a real kicking to both kidneys for about 45 minutes so that you couldn't stand or straighten up. I was late 20s, pretty fit physically and this was the tiniest of nicks. Got sensation back in my finger after a few days but had recurrent kidney pains periodically for several years afterwards." Other stories describe sting victims wanting to have their stung limb amputated from their body. Mother Nature's Kings of Pain Stings and Bites of Some Animals Are Almost Beyond Endurance, Victims Say By Lauren Cahoon ABC News 26 Feb 08

How to stay safe: Wear covered shoes. Watch your step and walk slowly. If you feel a prick through your shoe, pull back and don't step down with your full body weight. Do not step into murky water.
Can you spot the stonefish in the photo?

Tanah Merah, Aug 11

Tanah Merah, Jun 12

Tanah Merah, Apr 12

Tanah Merah, May 11

Tanah Merah, Jul 11

Tanah Merah, Aug 12

Half buried.
Tanah Merah, Jan 10

Half buried.
Tanah Merah, Dec 10

Nearly stepped on a stonefish!
Terumbu Hantu, Jul 19
What do they eat? Stonefishes are carnivores but don't actively hunt their prey. Instead, they lie motionless, relying on their camouflage to remain undetected. When a suitable snack comes close enough, they suck it into their huge mouths, or grab it with a sudden lunge of incredible speed. They generally eat fishes and crustaceans.

What will eat a stonefish? Incredible as it may sound, some animals do eat them. According to the Australian Museum, sharks and rays and a sea snake (Astrotia stokesii) eats them! And of course, some people eat them as a delicacy.

Human uses: The stonefish is harvested for the live aquarium trade, as well as an exotic delicacy.

Hollow-cheeked stonefishes on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Changi, Dec 16
Photo shared by Lena Chow on facebook.

Chek Jawa, Jun 14
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

Pulau Sekudu, Jul 15
Photo shared by Russel Low on facebook.


Tanah Merah, Jul 10
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on his flickr.

Tanah Merah, Dec 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Tanah Merah, Oct 09
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her blog.


East Coast Park, Sep 19
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.

East Coast Park, Feb 19
Photo shared by Camille Lee on facebook.

East Coast (G), Dec 22
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook


Sentosa Serapong, May 16
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.

Sentosa, Sep 11
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.


Kusu Island, Sep 07
Photo shared by Khoo Min Sheng on flickr.

St. John's Island, May 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


A tiny one!
Sisters Island, May 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Sisters Island, May 12
Photos shared by James Koh on his blog.


Pulau Semakau, Nov 09
Photo shared by James Koh on flickr.


Cyrene Reef, Aug 11
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

Cyrene Reef, Nov 17
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.


Cyrene Reef, Aug 17
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on facebook.

Terumbu Pempang Tengah, Jun 20
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.

Pulau Biola, Jan 22
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on facebook.

Stonefish @ Tanah Merah 13Feb2010 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.


Links

References

  • Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment. 163pp.
  • Allen, Gerry, 2000. Marine Fishes of South-East Asia: A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Periplus Editions. 292 pp.
  • Kuiter, Rudie H. 2002. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia: A Comprehensive Reference for Divers & Fishermen New Holland Publishers. 434pp.
  • Lieske, Ewald and Robert Myers. 2001. Coral Reef Fishes of the World Periplus Editions. 400pp.
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