The humpbacked scorpionfish was first formally described as Scorpaena gibbosa by the German naturalists Marcus Elieser Bloch & Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider with the type locality given as with "America" erroneously given as the type locality of this Indian Ocean species.

[3] In 1829 the French zoologist Georges Cuvier described Scorpaenopsis nesogallica as a new species with its type locality given as Mauritius.

[3][4] The specific name gibbosa means "humpbacked" (dorsa gibbo) a reference to the arced back of this species.

[2] The humpbacked scorpionfish is an ambush predator, waiting on the substrate using its excellent camouflage and striking when its prey comes within range.

The spies in the dorsal fin have venom glands and they can deliver a very painful sting, but it is not usually dangerous.