Leaf Scorpionfish

Taenianotus triacanthus

Greatly flattened laterally, high-backed body. Highly variable in colour: cream, yellow, greenish, brown, also white, red or pink.
Leaf scorpionfish are usually adapted to the colour of the environment, and only rarely contrasted to it, as is shown in the lower photo.

Size : 12 cm

Habitat : On coral, rock or rubble of protected and exposed reefs, 1-134 m. If required, it imitates swaying leaf by lateral waving in the current. Regularly replaces its external skin layer.

Distribution : East Africa to SW Japan, Galapagos, Hawaii, Australia and Fiji.

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Actinopterygii

ORDER

:

Perciformes

FAMILY

:

Scorpaenidae

GENUS

:

Taenianotus

SPECIES

:

Taenianotus triacanthus

Other Information

Population Status

Least Concern (LC)

PHOTO COLLECTION

Reference

  1. inaturalist.org
  2. Reef Fishes of the Indo-Pacific. Book by Matthias Bergbauer and Manuela Kirschner