The colour of these fish varies slightly, but they are usually bright red brown, to reddish brown with blotches and spots on most of the body and fins. The smaller fish are brighter.

Their body is compressed and the tail section is tapered, this species is also fully scaled.
The head is short and stout with short recurved spines on the upper surface and around the mouth. It has some rather prominent spines on the gill covers. The mouth is large with bands of small teeth. It has a normal lateral line the length of the body.
The first dorsal fin is rather long and slightly curved spines. The anal fin base has short spines. The pectoral fins are fan like, and the lower rays are thick at the base.

This fish is not a strong swimmer and prefers to sit on the bottom amongst cover, and dart out in short bursts to take it's food.

This food that the scorpion fish eat consists of small fish, crabs, shrimps and other small marine animals.

Did you know also that the Scorpion fish is also one of the few boney fish that bears it's young alive, insted of laying eggs.