Cockatoo waspfish

Description:

This fish can grow up 15 cm in length. This one was about 2-3 cm long. The body is compressed laterally, dorsal fin starts from the top of the head and it is joined with the caudal fin. When the dorsal fin is spread, it looks like a crest of a cockatoo. The thorns of the dorsal fin are venomous.

Habitat:

This species occurs in the tropical waters of Indo Pacific Ocean. It is benthic and nocturnal species. It is an opportunistic predator and ambushes passing prey while mimicking a crumpled, dead leaf or a drifting piece of seaweed. It allows itself to drift with the moving water in the way that an inert object would do.

Notes:

Other names include Leaf-Fish, Dwarf Lionfish, Shortfin Turkeyfish, Roque Fish and Rouge Fish.