Scalicus orientalis is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Peristediidae, the armoured gurnards or armored sea robins.

Scalicus orientalis was first formally desceribed as Nemaperistedion orientale in 1938 by the American zoologist Henry Weed Fowler with its type locality give as off Makian Island, between Gillolo and Makian Islands in Indonesia.

The front portion of the first dorsal fin is blackish, as are the two large filamentous barbels on the lower jaw, and the long, triangular rostral projections.

[1] Scalicus orientalis is found in theIndo-Pacific from Réunion[2] and the Arabian Sea east to New Caledonia, north to Japan and south to northern Australia.

In Australia it is found from the southwest of the Scott and Seringapatam Reefs and from Innisfall to Coolangatta in Queensland.