The weedy or popeyed scorpionfish, Rhinopias frondosa, inhabits the Indo-Pacific from South Africa to the Caroline Islands and Japan to Australia.
It is a nocturnal ambush hunter with venomous spines, living at 13 to 90 meters in depth, and can reach just over 20 centimeters in length.
These fish occur in different environments and are camouflaged to match their surroundings, allowing them to pounce on invertebrates and other fish. Like other scorpaenids, they tend to move by pushing themselves along the substrate using their fins.
They vary greatly in color, ranging from yellow, green, and lavender blue to dark red, brown, and purple. The patterned skin is covered with weed-like appendages, particularly on individuals in rocky algae-rich habitats.
This video features two weedy scorpionfish with one viewed in close-up, showing its unique markings and appendages.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
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