Ablabys binotatus (Redskinfish)

Ablabys binotatus , the redskinfish, is a waspfish of the genus Ablabys native to the Indian Ocean. Its name is derived from the Greek word meaning "harmless".

Habitat

The redskinfish generally occurs within the western areas of the Indian Ocean, along the southeastern coast of Africa. It is unclear as to whether or not it lives in the Seychelles. It is a reef-dwelling fish, living almost exclusively in tropical areas.

Biology

The redskinfish can grow to be up to 15 cm long. Like all waspfish, it is closely related to the often-dangerous scorpionfish; in spite of this, it is entirely harmless to humans (hence its generic name). Nevertheless, Ablabys binotatus is in the family Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish) which are mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As the name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas, but mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. They should not be confused with the cabezones, of the genus Scorpaenichthys, which belong to a separate, though related, family, Cottidae.

Reference: Wikipedia, iNaturalist
Photos: Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Integration Network