Ambon Scorpionfish

Pteroidichthys amboinensis has the elongate, compressed body typical of the genus Pteroidichthys. This species has 12 flexible spines and 9 soft rays in its dorsal fin and 2 spines and 6 soft rays in its anal fin. It has a relatively short snout which is on average around 14% of its standard length. The rear margin of the maxilla extends past a vertical line through the centre of the pupil. There are supraorbital tentacles and the posterior lacrimal spines are well developed, being longer than the diameter of the orbit. There are many tentacles on the body and the fins. The lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines are indistinct, normally being very small spines and frequently being blunt, bony protuberances. There is no clear black blotch on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin.

Pteroidichthys amboinensis is found in the Red Sea, through the Indian Oceamnand into the western Pacific Ocean as far east as Fiji, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. This is a demersal fish which is found at depths between 7 and 43 m (23 and 141 ft), over soft substrates and among algae.