Is the Bearded waspfish (Apistus carinatus) venomous?

Description

The bearded waspfish is a waspfish (Apistidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a stocky body, very large fan-shaped pectoral fins and long barbels under the chin, and an eyespot on the dorsal fin. It lives bottom-bound on soft bottoms of the continental shelf and is mainly caught with trawls on prawn grounds. As an ambush hunter it feeds on small crustaceans and small fishes. The fin spines carry venom and cause intense pain when stung.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bearded waspfish?

The Bearded waspfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Large fan-shaped pectoral fins and chin barbels; venomous waspfish of soft bottoms.

Where does the Bearded waspfish live?

The Bearded waspfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific; soft bottoms of the continental shelf.

How big does the Bearded waspfish get?

The Bearded waspfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Bearded waspfish dangerous to humans?

The Bearded waspfish is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. The fin spines carry venom; a sting causes intense, burning pain and swelling. Immerse the wound in hot water (about 45 C) for 30-90 minutes to break down the venom, remove spine fragments and seek medical care.

Is the Bearded waspfish edible?

The Bearded waspfish is rarely eaten.

All data

Identification

English name

Bearded waspfish verified

Scientific name

Apistus carinatus

Family

Apistidae

Other names

Bearded waspfish; Bullrout; Longfin waspfish; Long-finned waspfish; Ocellated waspfish; Ring-tailed cardinalfish; Scorpionfish; Stonefish; Sulky verified

Appearance

Size class

Medium verified

Max length (cm)

20.0 verified

Average length (cm)

10.0 verified

Body shape

Torpedo-shaped sourced

Dominant colour

Brown inferred

Pattern

Plain inferred

Tail shape

Rounded inferred

Mouth position

Terminal inferred

Lips

Thick / fleshy inferred

Barbels

Yes sourced

Dorsal fins

One continuous inferred

Dorsal spines

Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type

Saltwater sourced

Substrate

Sand / mud bottom sourced

Min depth (m)

14.0 verified

Max depth (m)

60.0 verified

Natural range

Indo-West Pacific; soft bottoms of the continental shelf. inferred

Origin

Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet

Carnivore sourced

Diet (detail)

Small crustaceans and small fishes sourced

Social behaviour

Solitary inferred

Territorial

No inferred

Reproduction

Separate sexes sourced

Sexual dimorphism

No inferred

Seasonality

Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

Special features

Large fan-shaped pectoral fins and chin barbels; venomous waspfish of soft bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility

Rarely eaten sourced

Fishing method

Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred

Regulations source

FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans

Venomous / poisonous sourced

First aid

The fin spines carry venom; a sting causes intense, burning pain and swelling. Immerse the wound in hot water (about 45 C) for 30-90 minutes to break down the venom, remove spine fragments and seek medical care. sourced

Status & sources

Sources

FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Bearded waspfish