I'm Sure It Was Here Somewhere...

There are many ways to secure a meal in the ocean, from out-swimming your prey to ensnaring it to luring it to its doom. One particular reef predator, however, relies exclusively on its ability to ambush the unwary and has turned that ability into an art form.

The Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) is a virtually unrivalled master of camouflage. Covered with an array of frills and appendages, this unusual and beautiful marine predator can easily be mistaken for seaweed or coral or any other seemingly innocuous part of the underwater landscape. Armed with its incredible disguise, the Scorpionfish is an almost perfect ambush predator, lying in wait on the sea floor or on an outcropping of coral until an unsuspecting fish or invertebrate gets too close, and then strikes with lightning speed. 

Reaching about 23cm in length, it is usually found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans at depths of up to 90 meters and can vary greatly in colour depending on its environment. So attuned to their surroundings are they that they rarely swim, instead preferring to lie stock-still unless absolutely necessary, and even then only moving along the bottom by propelling themselves along with their fins.

R. frondosa is highly sought after by aquarists who collect rare and unusual species and is considered by some to be the “Holy Grail” of uncommon marine fish. Although they can be found in the aquarium trade in the U.S. and Europe, they are mostly exported to Japan where they fetch a very high price. But their rareness in private aquaria is not due to any apparent scarcity, but due (at least in part) to the fact that they live in habitats that are not readily explored and to the fact that their excellent camouflage makes them difficult to find. If you are lucky enough to acquire one of these fascinating fish for your own aquarium, just be careful not to lose it…