Leaf Scorpionfish

Seen in Dauin, Philippines (Oct 2, 2012).
Leaf scorpionfish are about ten centimeters long. The color of this fish varies from green, red, pink, brown, ocher and yellowish to a ghostly white. The fish is almost as flat as a leaf and resembles a leaf in many other ways. Head and mouth are large. Through their eyes there is a dark line. The large dorsal fin starts just behind the eyes. The poison of the leaf fish is considerably weaker than that of the lionfish and stonefish. The skin often has blotches that enhance a camouflage effect. This fish has appendages around the mouth, and sometimes real algae and hydroids grow on its skin. The fish molts every 10 to 14 days, and can change colors after the molt.