Description:

Dorsal spines: 12; Dorsal rays: 9-10; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 5-6. 

A small scorpionfish with large prominent eyes and a large mouth. 

Colour. Pinkish to reddish body with numerous very small whitish spots and large yellow blotches. Fins yellowish. (No dark bars on underside of head).
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length: 7.0 cm SL. Common length: 6.4 cm SL.

Found in reef crests with rich coral growth often in surge areas (depth 2-30 m, usually 2-15 m). Usually shelters amongst branching corals with a 
preference for Pocillopora coral and Millepora and Styllophora fire coral. Solitary or in small groups. It is a nocturnal ambush predator the prey is
engulfed in the relatively large mouth. Feed on small fishes, crustaceans and zooplankton making short darts forward to capture prey, rarely leaving 
the shelter of the reef to avoid predation.

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

Has venomous fin spines.
Photographed in Cousin Island Special Reserve at approx. 12 m depth. Photo courtesy and (c) 2023 Lize Fourie.

ALA (2023). Sebastapistes cyanostigma. Atlas of Living Australia. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/23a0f1da-a967-421e-87b9-958e9bbbfbe5 (17/10/23). 
Bray, D.J. (2020). Sebastapistes cyanostigma in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4346 (17/10/23). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2023). FishBase. Sebastapistes cyanostigma. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5811 (17/10/23). 
Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. (2016). Sebastapistes cyanostigma. The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69919569A70010025.en. (17/10/23).  
Smith, J.L.B. & Smith, M.M. (1963). The Fishes of Seychelles. Department of Ichthyology. Rhodes University. Grahamstown. 

Nevill, J.E.G. & Fourie, L. (2023). Sebastapistes cyanostigma, Yellowspotted scorpionfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/sebastapistes-cyanostigma-bleeker-1856/