Synanceiidae is a family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of Actinopterygii

Actinopterygii

The Actinopterygii or ray-finned fishes constitute a class or sub-class of the bony fishes.The ray-finned fishes are so called because they possess lepidotrichia or "fin rays", their fins being webs of skin supported by bony or horny spines , as opposed to the fleshy, lobed fins that characterize...

, ray-finned fish, found in the Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...

 oceans. They are primarily marine

Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...

, though some species are known to live in fresh or brackish waters. The various species of this family are known informally as stonefish, stinger, stingfish and ghouls. The most prominent genus of the family is Synanceia

Synanceia

Synanceia is a genus of fish of the family Synanceiidae, the Stonefishes, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific oceans....

Bloch & Schneider, which is sometimes placed in the Scorpaenidae family. Its species are known to have the most potent neurotoxin

Neurotoxin

A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...

s of all the fish venoms, secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin

Dorsal fin

A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...

 spines. The vernacular

Vernacular

A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...

 name of the species derives from their behaviour of camouflaging as rocks. The type species of the family is the stonefish

Stonefish

Synanceia verrucosa is a fish species, sometimes lethal to humans, which is known as the reef stonefish or simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...

, Synanceia verrucosa.

Genera and species

• Genus Choridactylus
• Genus Erosa
  • Erosa erosa Pitted stonefish
• Genus Inimicus
  Inimicus
  Inimicus is a genus of venomous fishes, closely related to the true stonefishes. This genus is a member of the Synanceiidae family of the Scorpaeniformes order of ray-finned fishes. These benthic fishes are found on sandy or silty substrates of lagoon and seaward reefs, in coastal regions of...
  
  
  • Inimicus didactylus
    Inimicus didactylus
    Inimicus didactylus, also known as Demon Stinger or Devil Stinger, is a member of the Inimicus genus of venomous fishes, closely related to the true stonefishes. It can reach a body length of 25 cm and is irregularly surfaced with spines and a knobby appearance. The fish has venomous spines...
    
    Devil Stinger
  • Inimicus filamentosus
    Inimicus filamentosus
    Inimicus filamentosus, also known as the Filament-finned stinger, Barred ghoul, Two-stick stingfish, or Devil scorpionfish, is a member of the Inimicus genus of venomous fishes. It is a member of the Synanceiidae family of the Scorpaeniformes order of ray-finned fishes...
    
    Two-stick stingfish
  • Inimicus sinensis
    Inimicus sinensis
    Inimicus sinensis, also known as the Spotted ghoul, Chinese stinger, Spotted stingerfish, or Spotted stonefish, is a member of the Inimicus genus of venomous fishes. It is a member of the Synanceiidae family of the Scorpaeniformes order of ray-finned fishes...
    
    Spotted ghoul
• Genus Leptosynanceia
• Genus Minous
• Genus Pseudosynanceia
• Genus Synanceia
  Synanceia
  Synanceia is a genus of fish of the family Synanceiidae, the Stonefishes, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans. It is the most venomous fish in the world. They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific oceans....
  
  
  • Synanceia verrucosa
    Synanceia verrucosa
    Synanceia verrucosa is a fish species, sometimes lethal to humans, which is known as the reef stonefish or simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
    
    Bloch
    Marcus Elieser Bloch
    Marcus Elieser Bloch was a German medical doctor and naturalist. He is generally considered one of the most important ichthyologists of the 18th century.- Life :...
    
     & Schneider
    Johann Gottlob Schneider
    Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider was a German classicist and naturalist.-Biography:Schneider was born at Collm in Saxony...
    
    , 1801 Reef stonefish,
  • Synanceia horrida
    Synanceia horrida
    Synanceia horrida is a species of venomous fish of the Synanceiidae family, also known as the Estuarine stonefish or regionally as simply stonefish. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock...
    
    , Estuary stonefish
  • Synanceia nana, Red Sea stonefish
• Genus Trachicephalus