Scorpionfish

Photo: Ken Graham · CC BY-NC

Scorpionfish are virtually invisible against the encrusted steel of the Kogyo Maru, their mottled skin matching sponge and algae textures with extraordinary fidelity as they wait motionless for unwary fish to wander within striking range. They are ambush predators capable of engulfing prey in a millisecond strike, consuming fish up to half their own body length. Thirteen venomous dorsal spines serve as a deterrent against predation, and accidental contact causes immediate intense pain requiring medical attention.