Minous trachycephalus (striped stingfish)

We picked up a rare stingfish recently...Minous trachycephalus (striped stingfish). It hails from the Western Pacific, and maxes out at about 4.5" or so. It is a stingfish, and as such belongs to the stonefish family (Synanceiidae).

It has been eating live ghosties, but last PM, it took a freshly-killed ghostie from a stealth stick, so hopefully, it will continue down the "becoming weaned" path.

Like the Choridactylus and Inimicus stingfishes, the anterior pectoral rays have evolved into dactlys or fingers that can be used for locomotion and lunging at prey. Our specimen seems to lack "flash patterns" on the axial surfaces of its pectorals, but they are a nice rusty-red color.

 

Sick fish.