About Scorpaenopsis cacopsis Jenkins, 1901
Scorpaenopsis cacopsis Jenkins, 1901 is a visually striking scorpionfish species with an elaborate, fringed appearance that supports camouflage. It has a flattened body with mottled coloration that ranges from brown to reddish. Its robust shape blends effectively into rocky and coral reef habitats. This species can grow up to 51.0 cm (20.1 in) long. It is an ambush predator that stays motionless on the ocean floor until unsuspecting prey approaches, then sucks the prey into its large mouth. In the wild, this species is generally solitary, only gathering for breeding. Breeding this scorpionfish in captivity is uncommon and not well documented. Injuries from this scorpionfish can be avoided by not standing on or touching reefs; if stung, it is important to treat the injury quickly by soaking the affected area in hot water. This species is distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and southern Japan. In Hawaiʻi, it commonly lives in ledges and caves along outer coral reefs, where it often rests motionless on the sea floor or in crevices at depths between 10 and 200 feet. It is a nocturnal carnivore that mainly hunts at night, preying on small fish and crustaceans. As a carnivore, it requires a protein-rich diet, and primarily eats marine fish, crustaceans, clams, and other meaty marine foods.
