TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes. (Scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Family: Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes)
Subfamily: Scorpaeninae

Genus/species: Taenianotus triacanthus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Leaf Scorpionfish is tan to reddish or brown in color. It has prickly papillae instead of scales. Inhabits reef flats, outer reef slopes, current-swept channels, and rarely on lagoon reefs. They have venomous spines.

Length up to 10.0 cm (4 in)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: The are found in the Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Galapagos Islands, north to Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Australia and the Tuamoto Islands. Inhabits reef flats, outer reef slopes, current-swept channels, and rarely on lagoon reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds on small crustaceans and fishes

CONSERVATION: IUCN: Least Concern

REMARKS: T. triacanthus are solitary and usually immobile among algae or seagrass but has hip movements resembling that of a leaf falling down from a tree. They molt twice a month with the skin breaking off first in the head region.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Hidden Reef 2018

fishbase http://fishbase.org/summary/5824

IUCN  http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/79800214/0

EOL eol.org/pages/212250/details

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