Biodiversity & Conservation

Long-spined sea scorpion - Taurulus bubalis

Taurulus bubalis

Image Paul Naylor - Long-spined sea scorpion, Taurulus bubalis Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

Taurulus bubalis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Taurulus bubalis is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Chordata Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Class Actinopterygii Ray-finned fish, e.g. sturgeon, eels, fin fish, gobies, blennies, and seahorses
Authority (Euphrasen, 1786)
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Common on all coasts of Britain and Ireland on rocky grounds, generally amongst algae.
Habitat information icon Habitat information On rocky ground, amongst algae from the intertidal to depths of 30 m.
Text page icon Description Taurulus bubalis is a distinctive rocky shore fish up to 20 cm in length with a broad bony head that tapers to the tail. The eyes and mouth are very large as this species is an ambush predator. Colour is variable and they can match their surroundings with great accuracy. The head and first dorsal fin are spiny with one very long spine on the cheek.
Identifying features
  • Two dorsal fins.
  • Large head in proportion to body.
  • Scaleless skin.
  • Barbel at the corners of the mouth.
  • Very long spine on the cheek (behind the eye and above the pectoral fin).
Additional information icon Additional information May be confused with the short-spined scorpion fish, Myoxocephalus scorpius, but this species is much larger when full grown and lacks the very long cheek spine and mouth barbel. Taurulus bubalis feeds on crabs, shrimps and fish in shallow water and rockpools and will remain motionless if discovered, relying on its camouflage to avoid detection.

This review can be cited as follows:

Ken Neal 2008. Taurulus bubalis. Long-spined sea scorpion. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2012]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4426>