These are slow moving or sedentary carnivores often with venomous spines that can give a painful sting. Some are masters of camouflage and others are conspicuous by their colors and enlarged fins. Most are like the former. Punctures can cause extreme pain, suffering and even death (not in Hawaii). Stepping on or touching a camouflaged scorpionfish is always possible when around the reef. The Devil Scorpionfish looks like parts of the rock or coral. The Lionfish lurks upside down on roofs of caves or under ledges where you may brush against it.

Leaf Scorpionfish
(Taenianotus triacanthus)

This animals color will vary from grayish white to yellow, red, brown or black and appear to harbor algae and other growths in their skin. They will molt when too fuzzy and emerge as clean as new sometimes with a different color. It has an unusually laterally flattened body, which will sit perched in the reef waving slightly to and fro like a leaf in the wind. It may not have venomous fin spines, as do the others in this family.