The predatory sea scorpion is a common fish which inhabits shallow coastal waters. It has a broad head and a tapered body. A distinctive white barbel is visible on either corner of its large mouth. It has a large spine pointing backwards from each gill cover, in addition to other spines, and should be handled with caution. Its close relative the short-spined sea scorpion, like its name suggests, does not possess these long spines. The sea scorpion mimics the colours in its local environment and has a mottled pattern in a range of colours. It can be brown or a deep red, orange, pink or purple. The sea scorpion is not venomous like its European cousin the Mediterranean scorpion fish. The sea scorpion grows to 20cm in length.