Long-spined Sea Scorpion Taurulus bubalis
This broad headed, tapered bodied predator is a distinctive common fish with large spines, which you can find in shallow coastal waters. It has the special talent of mimicking the colours of its surrounding environment.
Conservation status in Norfolk
The sea scorpion is not threatened.
How to help
Join the Wildlife Trust Living Seas campaign and come along to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s coastal education trips.
Rob Spray
Information on the Long-spined Sea Scorpion
How to recognise
The predatory sea scorpion is a common fish which inhabits shallow coastal waters. It has a broad head and a tapered body. A distinctive white barbel is visible on either corner of its large mouth. It has a large spine pointing backwards from each gill cover, in addition to other spines, and should be handled with caution. Its close relative the short-spined sea scorpion, like its name suggests, does not possess these long spines. The sea scorpion mimics the colours in its local environment and has a mottled pattern in a range of colours. It can be brown or a deep red, orange, pink or purple. The sea scorpion is not venomous like its European cousin the Mediterranean scorpion fish. The sea scorpion grows to 20cm in length.
Where to see
The sea scorpion can be seen all year round.
When to see
The sea scorpion can be seen all year round.
Did you know?
The sea scorpion, like many bottom dwelling fish, lacks a swim bladder. The absence of this buoyancy controlling organ affects movement, and the sea scorpion is an ungraceful swimmer, but this doesn’t affect its ability to hunt successfully. It is primarily an ambush predator, but may also creep up and attack prey items which include crustaceans and other fish species.
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