Reef Stonefish

Synanceia verrucosa

           Synanceia verrucosa,  better known as the Reef Stonefish, is the deadliest fish in the sea.  It produces a toxin that is stored in it’s 13 dorsal fins.  Reef Stonefish only uses its venom as a defense mechanism un like the lion fish which uses it’s dorsal fins to attack if bothered.  Most commonly, it is encountered by humans when the Reef Stonefish is stepped on accidentally or is mistaken as a rock and picked up by humans. 

           The phylogenetic tree is based on morphological characteristics such as  short thickset body with many wart-like projections.  Also the fact that they all posses a similar protein based venom.