Waspfish

ID points

• Dorsal fin starts above the eye and rises high like a sail
• Flattened body that rocks with the current, mimicking a dead leaf
• All of the dorsal fin spines are venomous

Basics

Family

Tetrarogidae

Length

8–15 cm

Depth

1-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs and seagrass beds of the Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Sandy and weedy reef margins

Diet

Small shrimp and small fish

Easily confused with

FrogfishPectoral fins like hands, used to walk over the bottomHairy FrogfishCovered all over with hair-like filaments of skinLeaf ScorpionfishBody extremely flattened side to side, like a fallen leaf

Fun fact

Its colouring blends closely with rock and sandy bottoms, and it stays completely still to keep the disguise. The dorsal spines are venomous, making it a dangerous ambush hunter on the reef.