Scorpionfish

ocean · venomous · tropical fish · camouflage

Venomous spines. Scorpionfish have sharp spines on their fins coated with venomous mucus that they use to defend themselves from predators. If a spine pricks you, it injects poison, making these fish some of the world's most venomous creatures.

Worldwide ocean dwellers. Scorpionfish live in tropical and temperate seas all around the world, but they're especially common in the Indo-Pacific region where there are lots of coral reefs and rocky areas to hide.

Masters of disguise. These fish are incredible at blending in with their surroundings, changing color and texture to match rocks, coral, and sand on the ocean floor so prey can't see them.

Sneaky hunters. Scorpionfish don't chase their food, instead they wait patiently on the ocean bottom and snap up passing fish and shrimp with lightning-fast movements.

Don't touch. Even though they're not aggressive, stepping on a scorpionfish while swimming or wading can be very painful and dangerous, so it's important to watch where you step in shallow tropical waters.