About Taenianotus triacanthus Lacepède, 1802
At full adult size, Taenianotus triacanthus (also called the leaf scorpionfish) reaches approximately 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length. Its body color can range widely, including green, red, pink, brown, ocher, yellowish, and even pale ghostly white. This fish has a body shape that is almost as flat as a leaf, and resembles a leaf in many other characteristics. It has a large head and a large mouth, with a dark dark running directly through its eyes. Its large dorsal fin originates just behind the eyes, and has 12 spines plus between eight and 11 soft rays. Its anal fin has three spines and between five and six soft rays. The venom of this species is considerably weaker than the venom of lionfish and stonefish. The skin of Taenianotus triacanthus often has blotches that improve its camouflage. It has small appendages around the mouth, and sometimes real algae and hydroids will grow on its skin. This fish molts every 10 to 14 days, and is able to change its body color after molting. Taenianotus triacanthus has a wide distribution, ranging from the east African coast and the Red Sea across the tropical Indo-Pacific, north as far as the Galapagos Islands, Ryukyu Islands, and Hawaii, and also reaches the coast of New South Wales. This species lives in tropical waters on coral reefs, and can be found from shallow water down to a depth of 130 meters.
