Lacy Scorpionfish

Photo: Nick Hobgood · CC BY-NC-ND

The cold, nutrient-rich waters at Lagunillas support an unusual cold-water scorpionfish community, including highly camouflaged species that rest on encrusted rock and mimic the surrounding sponge and algae textures. These ambush predators are year-round residents but most visible during the austral winter months when clear upwelling water improves visibility and their body temperatures slow their movements, making them easier to find. Finding scorpionfish at this site requires methodical searching of rocky substrate at 8 to 15 metres depth, where their perfect camouflage is broken only by the subtle outline of their pectoral fins.