Scorpaenopsis cotticeps Fowler 1938

With 33-37 vertical scale rows; 4 predorsal scales; a blunt head profile, eye protruded a little from the dorsal contour of head, no hump behind head; 2 spines on lachrymal overlying maxillary (1st spine forward and 2nd spine backward), broad postocular and tympanic spines and many small papillae on head (Ref. 10895). Interorbital ridges elevated posteriorly to join tip of tympanic spines; base of parietal spines not curving into occipital pit; first dorsal spine 1.6-1.9 in second spine (Ref 42181).Description: Characterized by mottled reddish brown color; anterior caudal peduncle often with broad irregular whitish bar; back below middle of dorsal fin sometimes with whitish area; upper opercular spine double; snout 3.4-3.8 in head length; interorbital width 7.0-7.8 in head length; orbit diameter 3.5-4.2 in head length below anterior half of eye is a deep subtriangular pit; depth of body 2.4-2.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).

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

Inhabits shallow rocky reefs (Ref. 42552); over rubble or rubble and sand bottom (Ref. 42181).

分布於印度太平洋區，西起至索馬利亞經波斯灣，東至西太平洋包括日本、南中國海、菲律賓與澳洲。臺灣發現於西部海域。

小型魚類，除學術研究外，不具經濟價值。偶爾於底拖網所捕獲。

體中長且橢圓，稍側扁。標準體長為體高之2.35-2.75倍。頭中大，標準體長為頭長之2.0-2.15倍，棘稜具明顯的鋸齒狀。眼大，上側位；頭長為眼徑之3.55-4.2倍。頭長為眼間距寬之7.0-7.8倍。口中大，上端位，斜裂且角度極度傾斜，與水平呈60-70°。吻部短，頭長為吻部之3.9-4.55倍。眶下脊具4棘，第一棘位於淚骨上。上鰓蓋棘雙分岔。眼間脊沿側面發散，向後延伸至鼓棘頂端，脊之高度也隨之增加。眼後棘由1低矮的脊與鼓棘連結。無冠狀棘。枕骨凹陷。眶下凹陷。眼上觸角形態多變，長短不一。側線縱鱗列：33-37。背鰭硬棘與鰭條有鰭膜相連，硬棘部的基底長於軟條部的基底，具硬棘 XII，軟條 9；臀鰭具硬棘 III，軟條5；胸鰭圓寬，無鰭條分離，軟條18-19；腹鰭胸位，延伸至肛門，具硬棘 I，軟條5；體褐紅色，尾柄通常具1不規則白色橫帶；有時在背鰭第九硬棘至軟條部散布白色點斑。枕骨凹的後緣通常具1黑色縱帶。鰓蓋皮瓣下具1黑斑。(李承運、林沛立2012/11編寫)

本種主要棲息於碎石堆或沙地環境，水深15-70m。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 cotticeps, the sculpin scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in theIndo-West Pacific.