Description:

Dorsal spines: 13-14; Dorsal rays: 9-10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5.

Small scorpionfish. Body elongated and compressed. Prominent cirri on head and in two rows down flanks. Nasal, interorbital and coronal spines absent. 
Middle rays of pectoral fin extremely long.
 
Colour. Base colour variable, mottled with reddish to grayish. Subopercle with a large blackish spot, equal to or larger than 
pupil diameter.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 12.0 cm TL.

Rare species. Very secretive in coastal coral reefs (depth 0-20 m) and rarely seen by divers. Solitary.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not caught in the artisanal fishery. 

Dorsal spines venomous.
First recorded in Seychelles in the 1950s (Smith & Smith, 1963).
Photo courtesy and (c) 2023 Alexander Cammaroto. Photo was taken (12/11/23) in 1.2 m depth on reef flats approx 300 m from the north shore of Anse la 
Mouche, Mahe. Specimen was approx 7.5 cm TL. 

FoAS. Scorpaenodes albaiensis. https://www.kahaku.go.jp/research/db/zoology/Fishes_of_Andaman_Sea/contents/scorpaenidae/09.html (14/11/23). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly.(Eds) (2023). FishBase. Scorpaenodes albaiensis. https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=7313&AT=Longfingered+scorpionfish (14/11/23). 
Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). Scorpaenodes albaiensis. The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69917722A70009742.en. (14/11/23).
Smith, J.L.B. & Smith, M.M. (1963). The Fishes of Seychelles. Department of Ichthyology. Rhodes University. Grahamstown. 

Nevill, J.E.G. & Cammaroto, A. (2023). Scorpaenodes albaiensis, Longfingered scorpionfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/scorpaenodes-albaiensis-evermann-seale-1907/