WildView™

November 15, 2021

Colorful Camouflage

- as seen by -

Frank Greco

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While most scorpionfishes can be very bland-looking, this frilled or weedy scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa, bucks the trend.

It can be found in colors ranging from red to orange to yellow to purple. The species is highly venomous and care must be taken when handling. Not a great swimmer, it usually hops along the substrate using its pectoral fins.

While not endangered or threatened, this scorpionfish can be difficult to find due to its excellent camouflage ability.  Rhinopias are ambush hunters that change colors to blend into the adjacent rocks or seaweed, where they capture unsuspecting prey that swim into what would normally be a safe place to hide from predators.

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