Leaf Scorpionfish

Photo: Kai Squires · CC BY

Leaf scorpionfish are found throughout Forbes Bay's rubble zones and on dead coral outcrops, rocking gently on their pectoral fins in a convincing imitation of a leaf or piece of algae drifting in the current — one of the most effective camouflage performances on any reef. They shed their entire outer skin every two weeks, cycling between colour morphs of white, yellow, brown, and red, making repeated identification of the same individual a pleasant challenge for divers revisiting specific coral heads. Unlike other scorpionfish, leaf scorpionfish are entirely harmless — their fins lack functional venom glands — but their cryptic perfection means even experienced macro divers step past them without registering their presence.