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Tasseled Scorpionfish

Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Photo by Blogie
Published on Project Noah
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6.92209, 125.785

Field Notes

Description:

Also known as Tasseled Rockfish, Tasseled Goblinfish, Flathead Scorpionfish, Smallscale Scorpionfish, Smallscale Stingfish, Smallscale Firefish, Smallscale Goblinfish and Smallscale Rockfish. Adults are bearded with a number of tassels below the jaw.

They feed on small fish and swimming invertebrates, and grow to about 36cm in length.

Habitat:

Found singly and well camouflaged around coral reefs on slopes blending into plants, rocks, mud and sand. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

This scorpionfish was nearly perfectly camouflaged I almost missed it. Take a look at the next two photos and you'll see what I mean.

The 4th photo shows an uncamouflaged tasseled scorpionfish, taken at another dive site (Dayang Beach, Talikud Island, Samal, Philippines).

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