Dr. John Ernest (Jack) Randall (†), Hawaii
Info
Caracanthus is a genus of small marine fish living among stony corals in the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae). They are also called furry perches or coral stools and include four species.
Furgrogs, as they are also called, live among the branches of branching stony coral genera in harem groups, with one male and usually several females. There they hold on with their ventral fins.
They swim poorly and feed on crustaceans and other small animals that get between the coral branches.
Caracanthus have an oval, laterally compressed body covered with small, rough papillae and a small, terminal mouth. There are tiny scales on the head, each bearing a single spine.
Furry grosbeaks have a squat, laterally compressed body.
Attention:
Like other fish in the carapace group, Caracanthus typicus has venom glands in the rays of its dorsal fins.
While this venom is not lethal to humans, it does cause severe pain.
The dorsal spines can also become entangled in nets, so they should be transported in a small container if possible.
Caracanthus typicus particularly likes to stay in the stony coral Pocillopora meandrina.
Furgrogs, as they are also called, live among the branches of branching stony coral genera in harem groups, with one male and usually several females. There they hold on with their ventral fins.
They swim poorly and feed on crustaceans and other small animals that get between the coral branches.
Caracanthus have an oval, laterally compressed body covered with small, rough papillae and a small, terminal mouth. There are tiny scales on the head, each bearing a single spine.
Furry grosbeaks have a squat, laterally compressed body.
Attention:
Like other fish in the carapace group, Caracanthus typicus has venom glands in the rays of its dorsal fins.
While this venom is not lethal to humans, it does cause severe pain.
The dorsal spines can also become entangled in nets, so they should be transported in a small container if possible.
Caracanthus typicus particularly likes to stay in the stony coral Pocillopora meandrina.
