No photo available
Leaf scorpionfish
Taenianotus triacanthus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Leaf scorpionfish
- Scientific
- Taenianotus triacanthus
- Dhivehi
- Gaaviha mas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 10 cm (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 5 to 135 m (usually 5 to 20 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A small, very flattened scorpionfish shaped like a leaf, with a tall sail-like dorsal fin, ranging in colour from yellow and white to pink, red, brown or black. It sways gently from side to side like a dead leaf in the surge, waiting for small fish and crustaceans. It sheds its outer skin every couple of weeks.
In the Maldives
FishBase (Maldives) gives gaaviha mas.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Taenianotus-triacanthus.html
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5824&GenusName=Taenianotus&SpeciesNam
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Pez_escorpión_de_vela_(Taenianotus_triacanthus),_Mahé,_Seyc
Dhivehi name source: FishBase common names (country: Maldives) give 'Gaaviha mas' (Latin script). FLAG: single source.