The red velvetfishGnathanacanthus goetzeei (Bleeker, 1855) is a marine scorpaeniformfish of the inshore waters of western and southern Australia. It is the sole member of the family Gnathanacanthidae.
This fish is red all over, and instead of scales, its skin is covered with small tubercles, thus the name. All of its fins (except caudal) are large and spined, and of its two dorsal fins, the forward one reaches to just above the large eyes. The mouth is also large, and there is also a fleshy pad just above the upper jaw. The opercle has two spines which may be concealed by skin. The fish grows to 30 cm in length.
The spines are venomous, and can inflict painful wounds.
Red velvetfish are more active at night, when they hunt crab and octopus on the sea floor.
The terminal mouth is often large and angled upwards, with small, numerous teeth, which would serve in the capture of prey swimming above.
Body shape in the families Aploactinidae (velvetfish), Gnathanacanthidae (red velvetfish) and Pataecidae (prow- and indian-fish) is compressed, ie.
In Scorpaenidae (scorpionfish), Triglidae (gurnards) and Gnathanacanthidae, the dorsal fin is deeply notched into two sections, and serves as protection against predators, as the anterior dorsal fin section spines are strong and venomous, with the ends not joined by membrane.
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