Macro
Leaf Scorpionfish
Taenianotus triacanthus · Bony fish — family Scorpaenidae; the only member of its genus
The act is total: a leaf scorpionfish flattens into a blade-thin oval, plants itself among rubble or weed, and rocks with the surge like dead vegetation, sometimes holding the same square meter for weeks. Colors span white, cream, yellow, pink, rust, and near-black, and an individual can shift shade over days; the fish also molts, shedding a dull outer skin layer every week or two to clear fouling and reboot the disguise. It is a genuine scorpionfish with mildly venomous spines, though its real defense is being ignored rather than fighting. Prey — small crustaceans and fish larvae — sways within reach and simply disappears. Once a guide points out the first one you start finding your own: scan rubble edges and ledge lips for the single leaf holding its ground against the current.
Où et quand en observer un
« Résident » signifie que la plupart des plongées sur ce site permettent de les observer ; « saisonnier » signifie qu'ils sont présents de manière fiable durant les mois indiqués ; tout le reste est un bonus, pas une certitude.
| Destination | Fiabilité | Mois | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | Occasional | Toute l'année | |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | Occasional | Toute l'année | |
| AnilaoPhilippines | Occasional | Toute l'année | |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | Occasional | Toute l'année | |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | Occasional | Toute l'année | |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | Occasional | Toute l'année |
Meilleur mois, en un coup d'œil
Les comprendre
Habitat: Rubble patches, ledge lips, algae tufts, and coral heads on reef slopes and drop-off edges, holding position where surge moves debris.
Aire de répartition: Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Comportement: Rocks side to side with the surge like a dead leaf, holds a home patch for weeks, shifts color over days, and periodically molts its outer skin layer to shed fouling.
Régime alimentaire: Small crustaceans and larval fishes that drift within reach of the upturned mouth.
Taille: généralement autour de 0.08 m; documenté jusqu'à 0.1 m (total length).
Comment se comporter avec lui
Frame it where it sits; nudging a leaf scorpionfish onto prettier bottom is the fastest way to make it swim off and lose its ambush site.
Conservation
Wide-ranging and not considered threatened; aquarium collection happens at a small scale.
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