Stonefish

When snorkeling in the Indian or Pacific Oceans, keep an eye out for coral reefs that are staring back at you. You may be looking at a stonefish, the world's most poisonous fish. Their venom is another prominent defensive mechanism. They have 13 strong dorsal spines that contain a deadly neurotoxin that, if trodden on, may kill humans. Stonefish are masters of amazing camouflage and can blend in so perfectly with their surroundings that their prey, predators, and even human SCUBA divers have trouble seeing them at all.

This monster comes in a variety of kinds, but they all employ the same camouflage strategy. The appropriately named stonefish mixes in with a variety of reefs and rocks to successfully lurk on the bottom, ready to ambush food thanks to its lumpy, encrusted look. While this camouflage protects them from predators, it is mostly used to help stonefish ambush their meal. Other reef fish and certain bottom-dwelling invertebrates are eaten, although they are not aggressively pursued. Instead, they sit and wait for dinner to arrive. Stonefish strike when their potential meal is less than a body length away after waiting for hours. Their muscular jaws and big lips provide so much pressure on their prey that they can simply suck it down and consume it whole.

Scientific Name: Scorpaena Horrida

Distribution: In the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific.

Size: 30cm to 40cm