The species is commonly seen in areas with mixed sand and rubble in reef flats, shallow lagoons, and channels.

The barchin scorpionfish was first formally described as Scorpaena strongia in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Kosrae in the Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia.

[4] Cuvier described the species Scorpaena laniara in the same publication but S. strongia is accepted as the senior synonym through widespread usage and is the valid name for this taxon.

[6] The specific name strongia refers to the type locality of Kosrae, which used to be called Strong's Island.

[3] The barchin scorpionfish is a solitary nocturnal ambush predator, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans.