You can generally get very close because this fish trusts its camouflage
Scorpionfish are masters of camouflage. They have numerous cirri covering their body (mainly head). Cirri are the fleshy appendages that are used for sensing and camouflage. This scorpionfish is facing to the right. The red eye in the top center will help you figure out what you are looking at. The mouth is facing upward on the right side. This photograph just shows the head of a spotted scorpionfish.
Besides their impressive camouflage, these fish are also able to stay completely still. This combination makes them very hard to find. As a diver when you do spot a scorpionfish, you can generally get very close because this fish trusts its camouflage and doesn’t seem to worry until you are very close or if you disturb it.
The spotted scorpionfish is the most commonly seen scorpionfish on coral reefs. They are generally seen in waters less than 50 feet deep. Spotted scorpionfish can be found on the bottom in very shallow water, and this can be a very unfortunate thing for unknowing beachgoers because these fish have venomous spines. If stepped on, spotted scorpionfish spines will puncture the skin and the venom is very painful. For divers, so long as you do not attempt to touch one, they pose no harm. They are not aggressive by any means. They are one of the few fish that you can observe closely without it trying to swim away from you.
Similar to the bandtail searobin we are featuring this month, the spotted scorpionfish has pectoral fins that open like wings when it decides to swim away. If disturbed, it will generally swim a short distance away and find a new area to perch on the bottom. When their pectoral fins open, they reveal a beautiful color and pattern that is very different than how the rest of the fish looks.
Spotted scorpionfish are ambush predators that use their ability to remain still and their camouflage to catch unsuspecting fish. A small fish will eventually swim near them and when it does, the scorpionfish will open their large mouths creating a vacuum of water that sucks the fish into its mouth.
When their pectoral fins open, they reveal a beautiful color and pattern
Did you know?
- Spotted scorpionfish swallow their prey whole in the blink of an eye.
- Spotted scorpionfish prey upon a variety of small fish and crustaceans. They are not picky!
- There are hundreds of species of scorpionfish in the ocean!
- Spotted scorpionfish will max out at around 18 inches long.
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