Leaf Scorpionfish [Taenianotus triacanthus]
Description
The Leaf Scorpionfish, or Paperfish, is a small, highly camouflaged fish that is found in the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. It is typically a pinkish or yellowish color, with a mottled pattern that allows it to blend in with its surroundings. This species has a compressed body and a broad, leaf-like protrusion on its snout, which gives it its common name. It is a solitary species that prefers to live among corals and other structures on the ocean floor. It is a slow-moving, ambush predator that feeds on small crustaceans and fish.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Fish
Actinopterygii
|
| Order |
Scorpionfishes and Flatheads
Scorpaeniformes
|
| Family |
Scorpionfishes
Scorpaenidae
|
| Genus |
Leaf Scorpionfishes
Taenianotus
|