Leaf Scorpionfish

ID points

• Body extremely flattened side to side, like a fallen leaf
• Rocks from side to side with the surge, mimicking a drifting leaf
• Sheds its skin regularly, colour ranging from white to red

Basics

Family

Scorpaenidae

Length

7–10 cm

Depth

1-130 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans

Habitat

Coral reefs, perched on the bottom

Diet

Small fish, shrimp

Easily confused with

ScorpionfishHead covered in skin flaps and spines, breaking up its outlineLionfishAlternating red and white bars over the whole bodyFrogfishPectoral fins like hands, used to walk over the bottom

Fun fact

The leaf scorpionfish has a thin, flattened body covered in leaf like skin flaps, and it comes in white, yellow, pink, red or brown to blend in with coral and algae. It rocks slowly from side to side to imitate a leaf drifting in the current, which makes it one of the finest impersonators on the reef, and it carries venomous spines too.