Synanceiidae is a
family of
Actinopterygii, ray-finned fish, found in the
Indo-Pacific oceans. They are primarily
marine, though some species are known to live in fresh or brackish waters. The various species of this family are known informally as stonefish, stinger, stingfish and ghouls. The most prominent genus of the family is
Synanceia, which is sometimes placed in the
Scorpaenidae family. Its species are known to have the most potent
neurotoxins of all the fish venoms, secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like
dorsal fin spines. The
vernacular name of the species derives from their behaviour of camouflaging as rocks. The type species of the family is the
stonefish,
Synanceia verrucosa.