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.
Waar en wanneer je er een kunt zien
"Resident" betekent dat je ze bij de meeste duiken op die bestemming tegenkomt; "seizoensgebonden" betekent betrouwbaar aanwezig in de vermelde maanden; al het andere is een bonus, geen garantie.
| Bestemming | Betrouwbaarheid | Maanden | Notities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | Occasional | Het hele jaar door | |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | Occasional | Het hele jaar door | |
| AnilaoPhilippines | Occasional | Het hele jaar door | |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | Occasional | Het hele jaar door | |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | Occasional | Het hele jaar door | |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | Occasional | Het hele jaar door |
Beste maand, in één oogopslag
Ze begrijpen
Habitat: Rubble patches, ledge lips, algae tufts, and coral heads on reef slopes and drop-off edges, holding position where surge moves debris.
Verspreidingsgebied: Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Hawaii and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Gedrag: 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.
Dieet: Small crustaceans and larval fishes that drift within reach of the upturned mouth.
Grootte: doorgaans rond 0.08 m; gedocumenteerd tot 0.1 m (total length).
Hoe je je ertegenover gedraagt
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.
Behoud
Wide-ranging and not considered threatened; aquarium collection happens at a small scale.
Gekende duiksites waar je ze tegenkomt
Bekijk
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