This is the Scorpaenopsis cacopsis or Titan Scorpionfish
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This is the Titan Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis cacopsis, or in Hawaiian the Nohu.
As you can see, this fish is great at camouflaging itself. These fish rest on the reef or the sea floor and have short appendages that look like the algae near them. Itʻs lower jaw is fringed with orange or red flaps, adding to the look of algae.They can be difficult to spot. They are ambush predators, usually feeding at night. They eat small fish and crustaceans. The scorpion fish will lie motionless until the unfortunate prey get too close to itʻs mouth and get sucked into itʻs large mouth. The Titan Scorpionfish is the largest of this species in Hawaii. It can grow to be 20 inches long and is found in water from 10-200 feet in depth. Fun fact, it is endemic to Hawaii, meaning it is only found in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian name, Nohu, is also a name for a plant that grows on land in Hawaii.
Nohu is a type of puncture vine. They share this name because the vine has spiny seeds that are long and sharp and can puncture your foot when stepped upon. This is similar to the dorsal and pectoral fins of the Titan Scorpionfish, which can also deliver an excruciating sting if stepped or brush against. It is said that heat can destroy the protein venom. If you are unfortunate enough to receive their sting, it is recommended that you soak the affected area in hot water, not scalding, but very hot. They can be a prized food source and it is thought that their population is decreasing due to over-fishing.
The image above was taken during a Private Ocean Project Maui Snorkel Tour.
This colorful image was taken off a West Maui Beach by the dedicated staff of Ocean Project Maui. They offer custom, private snorkel tours around the island of Maui, Hawaii. Each #COLORSOFTHEOCEAN image you see in our monthly blog, was captured during a private guided snorkel tour. These amazing images, as well as images above and below the water of the clients/supporters are included in every tour at no additional cost.
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