Fish with Best Camouflage #12. Reef Stonefish
The Reef Stonefish shares many titles. It is known to be the best-camouflaged fish,
the deadliest fish, and also, by some, the ugliest fish. Indeed, its greyish brown is
not one of the prettiest colors but the spots of bright reds and yellows do add some beauty
to it, that is if you can spot it. Its appearance allows it to blend into a background of rocks
and corals, hence its name. Predators such as large fish, prey, and even humans are usually
unable to spot the reef stonefish. Perhaps another reason for this is its lack of mobility.
It can lie still for several hours, which sometimes results in the growth of algae on
its body. It is known to be the deadliest fish because of the 13 venomous dorsal fins
it possesses. If not treated, stonefish venom can kill a person within 2 hours.
#11. Leaf Scorpionfish Native to the Indo Pacific and Western Australia,
the Leaf Scorpionfish is the prettier one on this list. Its colors can range from red,
yellow, and blue to a brownish tan. Its 4-inch-long body flattened shape, and sail-like dorsal
fin all make it look like a leaf. This is how it camouflages itself. This fish often
lets its body go limp so that it spins and moves with the current, pretty much like a
leaf. This not only helps in keeping itself safe from predators but also provides a chance
for it to move closer to its prey without being noticed. the Leaf Scorpionfish is also
venomous, the spines on its body penetrate the skin of potential prey or predator, injecting
venom and rendering it dead in a matter of time.
#10. Trumpetfish It gets its name from its long narrow body
and tubular snout. Its unique shape and its chameleon-like ability to change the color
of its scales allow it to be perfectly camouflaged in the colorful underwater world. This fish
can hide in the shadow of larger fish or follow them very closely without being noticed. It
allows the trumpetfish to approach potential prey unnoticed. The structure of its mouth
enables it to suck in its prey from some distance away. This 24 inches long fish is commonly
found in the Indo and Eastern Pacific coral reefs.
#9. Cuttlefish The US military has studied the cuttlefish
in order to improve their own camouflage. Biologists consider the cuttlefish to be the
HD tv of the underwater world. This is due to the fact that the skin of a cuttlefish
has around 10 million color cells. This allows it to change its color to match its surroundings
such as rocks, coral, algae, and sand. The flexibility of the cuttlefish enables it to
change the shape of its body to match its surroundings too. This way it stays safe from
predators and remains unnoticed by potential prey - such as crabs, prawns, and shrimp - until
it is too late for them. The cuttlefish population is very widespread with the more common species
being found in the Mediterranean, North, and Baltic seas.
#8. Crocodile Fish . It is a large flathead, carnivorous in nature
and sandy in color. Its brownish striped body makes it completely indistinguishable on the
seafloor. Here it lies, well-blended against the sand and rocks, quietly waiting for its
prey. The fact that the Crocodile Fish can even camouflage its eyes is truly amazing.
Its eyes have iris lappets, these are skin projections that can cover its large black
eyes in small portions making them look like stones and pebble. This extremely terrifying
creature is native to coastal regions and reefs in the Pacific and has been spotted
in the Philippines, all the way to Indonesia. #7. Leafy Sea dragon
Though the shape of its central body may make it look like a dragon, the leafy sea dragon
lacks the ability to breathe fire and is only a foot long at maximum length. It has a curvy
body with leaf-like protrusions. Its unique structure and yellow-green body make it look
like floating seaweed. Sea dragons are related to seahorses, and just like its relative,
childbearing is the responsibility of the sea dragon male. Sadly, this strange but beautiful
creature is very rare and is listed as endemic to Australia.
#6. Tasseled Anglerfish While many sea creatures use camouflage to
protect themselves from predators the tasseled anglerfish expertly uses its ability to camouflage
so that it can hunt its prey. The Tasseled Anglerfish is native to the southwestern Pacific
Ocean and the southeastern Indian Ocean where it hides in corals in a way that only its
eyes are visible. This is all thanks to its textured skin with bumps, warts, and flesh
that can blend in the surrounding.
On top of that, Anglerfish also has a lure on its spine that resembles a worm and the
fish uses it to lure in other small fish so that it can open its large mouth and swallow
the prey. #5. Flatfish
This fish has natural abilities that allow it to hide in the depths of the ocean, where
no one can see it clearly. While it is 2.5 meters long and weighs 661 pounds, this special
fish comes with a unique flat exoskeleton that allows it to settle to the ground in
a way that it looks like it s part of the seafloor.
Not just that, these fish also have the ability to change the color of their scales so that
they can match the texture of the ocean floor. Whether it s gritty, stone-riddled, or smooth
the flatfish can mimic it all. As they lay flat on the ground, these fish are barely
noticeable and predators swim by without giving them a second glance. The flatfish also buries
itself in sands and pebbles which allows it to ambush its prey the moment they pass by.
#4. Pygmy Seahorse Pygmy seahorses are tiny, minuscule creatures,
measuring only 2 centimeters. While their size allows them to hide effectively it also
makes them quite vulnerable against their predators. Thankfully for the pygmy seahorse,
its camouflage skills are a saving grace. This tiny creature has little tubercles all
over its body and these then transform to mimic the colors and shape of the sea fan
or corals that the seahorse is living in.
The pygmy seahorse resides in the Indo-West Pacific where it changes color to purple with
pink tubercles yellow with orange tubercles depending on the coral it lives in. These
colors not only help them survive but also makes them look pretty amazing.
#3. Lionfish The lionfish is one of the most dangerous
sea creatures on this list and if you recognize one then you better stay away! The lionfish
releases venom through its dorsal fins and while this might not kill you, you might get
a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylaxtic shock.
The lionfish reside in the Indo-Pacific region and the largest among them can grow as big
as 15 inches. Their most common species has a transparent dorsal fin splattered with dark
spots that allow it to blend into its environment whether it s a coral or a gorgonian sea fan.
The fish also has a striped patterning and if you look at it from away it doesn t make
it look like a fish. Currently, we know of 12 species of lionfish, and they all come
in different colors and patterns. #2. Painted Frogfish
Just like the pygmy seahorse, the painted frogfish has the ability to change its color
in order to blend into its surroundings.
These fish are easily found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region, and unlike the
pygmy seahorse, they have the ability to grow as big as 30 cm. In order to hide from predators,
the painted Frogfish covers itself in algae disguising itself in such an effective manner
that its prey approaches the algae thinking that it's food and then they end up becoming
a meal themselves. The frogfish also has the ability to strike within 6 milliseconds and
in just that short time it swallows its prey before it can run.
The frog fish's extensible body is covered with different spots, blotches, stripes, and
filaments which allows it to initiate its surroundings and hide from predators. Interestingly,
the frogfish also has long legs that resemble a frog which is why it's called a frogfish
#1Mimic Octopus The mimic Octopus resides in the deep seas
of the Indo Pacific region and as the name suggests it camouflages itself by transforming
its body and impersonating a more ferocious sea creature. When the mimic octopus swims
in open water, it can take on the shape of the black and white lionfish, and when it's
moving rapidly from place to place it rearranges its arms in a leaflike shape, resembling that
of a poisonous sole. The mimic octopus' flexible body can also transform into a venomous sea
snake. All three of these animals are known to be dangerous and by mimicking them the
vulnerable octopus can scare off predators.
In order to make this happen, the mimic octopus does not have a rigid exoskeleton that allows
them to mold their body in the shape they desire.
Which fish in this list do you like best?