Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
, subfamily: Scorpaeninae picture (Tatri_ud.jpg) by Tyler, E.
Order: Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:Leaf scorpionfish
Max. size: 10.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4313)
Environment: reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 5 - 134 m
Climate: tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Global Importance: aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos Islands, north to Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Australia and the Tuamoto Islands.
Diagnosis: Dorsal spines (total): 12-12;
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-11;
Anal spines: 3-3;
Anal soft rays: 5-6. Tan to reddish or brown in color (Ref. 4313). Has prickly papillae instead of scales. Dorsal fin high, 3rd or 4th spine longest; suborbital ridge without spines or with lump at head of ridge; preopercle with 2 indistinct spines only; body extremely compressed; soft dorsal fin attached to the caudal fin; coloration is variable, from nearly all yellow to red, brown or nearly black and variously mottled with darker pigment (Ref. 10482).
Biology: Inhabits reef flats, outer reef slopes, current-swept channels, and rarely on lagoon reefs. Solitary and usually immobile among algae or seagrass but effects hip movements resembling that of a leaf falling down from a tree. Molts twice a month with the skin breaking off first in the head region. Has the habit of mimicking a dead leaf by swaying from side to side (Ref. 37816). Feeds on small crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 9710); also feeds on larvae (Ref. 5503). Venomous spines. Also Ref. 57406
Threatened: Not in IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous: venomous ,
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene. 1990 Coordinator: [SIZE=-1]
http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Collaborators/CollaboratorSummary.cfm?ID=[/SIZE]
Main Ref: Myers, R.F.. 1991. (Ref. 1602)Update | Add
