About Coccotropsis gymnoderma (Gilchrist, 1906)
This species, commonly called the smoothskin scorpionfish, is a small, well-camouflaged fish. It has 14 to 16 spines and 5 or 6 soft rays in its dorsal fin, and 3 spines and 3 to 6 soft rays in its anal fin. Its body is orange, with a distinct cream patch on the rear portion. The maximum recorded total length of this fish is 50 mm. Its head has a pleated, wrinkled appearance, and the dorsal fin is lined with spines. Occasional specimens may have a pinkish head. The smoothskin scorpionfish is endemic to the South African coast, where it is only found between the Cape Peninsula and Algoa Bay, at depths from 9 m to 110 m. It is common on reefs, but is rarely seen due to its cryptic camouflage and sedentary behavior. It is typically not solitary. Like other members of the waspfish family, this species is extremely venomous, and contact with it should be avoided. Little is known about the life history or ecology of this species.
