Minous coccineus Alcock, 1890
Onestick stingfish
Minous coccineus
photo by Satapoomin, U.

Family:  Synanceiidae (Stonefishes), subfamily: Minoinae
Max. size:  10.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 20 - 80 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Durban, South Africa northwards; also in Red Sea, Arabian Sea and eastward to Gulf of Thailand. Reported as likely at Seychelles (Ref. 1623) but Randall and van Egmond 1994 (Ref. 10685) believe otherwise.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Characteristic black spots on inside of pectorals (Ref. 4313). Description: Characterized by having variable colors, usually reddish brown grading to white ventrally; alternating dark-edged and white and brown bands on back extending onto dorsal fin; pectoral fin dark brown with whitish bands and spots; first dorsal spine well separated from others by deeply incised membrane; lower most pectoral ray free of membrane; well developed head spines; two spines on lacrimal directed downward, posterior spine about twice the length of anterior spine; depth of body about 3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found on the continental shelf. Benthic (Ref. 75154). Taken in trawls at about 50 m (Ref. 4313). Inhabits sand and mud bottoms in 20-80 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  venomous


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