Stonefish
Synanceia
Not Kosher
Description
Stonefish is eaten in parts of Asia once it's properly prepared, since heat breaks down the venom. It's a delicacy in southern Japan, parts of southern China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, usually cooked with ginger into a clear soup or served as sashimi after the venomous fins are removed.
Stonefish live in coastal Indo-Pacific waters. Most species sit camouflaged among coral reefs in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, with a few in rivers.
Also known as
- Reef stonefish
Stonefish in foreign languages
| Scientific | Synanceia |
| Hebrew | אבנון |
| Arabic | سمك صخري |
| Russian | Бородавчатки |
| Turkish | taş balığı |
| Chinese | 毒鮋屬 |
| Japanese | オニダルマオコゼ属 |
| Vietnamese | Cá mặt quỷ |
| Thai | ปลาหิน |
Warnings & Kosher Issues
- Has rough, warty skin without true scales, so it is not kosher.
- The most venomous fish known. Its dorsal-spine venom can be fatal to humans and causes intense pain, with respiratory and cardiovascular effects.
- Sometimes confused with the freshwater lionfish.
