A scorpionfish on an inshore fringing reef (actually only a few meters from the research facility that I based at during my first PNG trip) at night. The most likely ID for this fish is smallscale scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis oxycephalus) that, as you can see from the examples below, can come in a variety of color schemes and overall 'looks.' Scorpionfishes include species that you can look directly at but still not see. This convenient night dive was my first in PNG and the first dive there on which I took my camera, following a non-camera-equipped checkout dive earlier in the day. (CRI/Jais Aben, Madang area)
A massive smallscale scorpionfish sitting on top of a coral during a night dive on a distant seamount. Seeing this fish — still the biggest of its kind that I've yet seen — was a definite highlight of that interesting dive. (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
A closer view of the same fish. The camouflage detail is quite fantastic. (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
A smaller member of the same species at the same site, during a daylight dive six months later. (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
The same fish. The fringes, flaps, and tassles of skin help break the outline of the scorpionfish and — in concert with its changeable coloration — allow it to blend more effectively with the weedy backgrounds of its reef habitats. Some scorpionfishes have algae growing on their skin to further enhance the camouflage effect — they periodically shed the algae along with a mucosal layer (not actually skin, as some believe). (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
Yet another individual — smaller still — on the same seamount. (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
The right pectoral fin of a smallscale scorpionfish. (Inglis Shoal, Kimbe Bay)
At this distant island site, a smallscale scorpionfish was laying in wait for an unwary passing fish, doing its best to pretend that it was part of the coral. These predators are extremely patient and will wait in one spot for an extremely long time if they need to. This specimen, that's lined itself up with the coral colony's stout branches like a rocket in a gantry, didn't move for the entire hour or so that I poked about this reef area. (Kimbe Island, Kimbe Bay)
At a remote pinnacle reef site, this smallscale scorpionfish revealed itself as it quickly swam from one position to another. Comparing this coloration with that of the above pictures gives some indication of the range within this species, though (because of the depth, that was about 20 m, where red light is largely filtered out) I had no idea how brilliant its coloration was until I developed the slides. Predictably, the scorpionfish gave me a big, slow yawn — that would have made a great photo — timed perfectly with my film running out.(Kilibob's Knob, Kimbe Bay)
Another scorpionfish — much smaller and one of the more bizarre and deadly looking of its family. This one's Inimicus caledonicus, also known as the Caledonian stinger or spiny devilfish. Jonno, erstwhile ace divemaster at Walindi who later shared his expertise with guests of Peter Hughes' Star Dancer liveaboard dive boat, turned this up for me right under our boat on the sandy area in front of an island beach. This site is a place where macro critters like this rule supreme (unfortunately, my search image is most effective for larger animals, because of my barracuda research, so it's great to have help in finding some of the smaller ones). This Inimicus was buried in the sand and, as you can see, is cryptic enough even when exposed. The multipronged spines that it's equipped with look particularly demonic. (Restorf Island, Kimbe Bay)
The same Inimicus, from the side, taken as I was extracting the last few molecules of air from my tank (I was nearing the end of my safety stop, having breathed my tank down, when Jonno found us the scorpionfish) before surfacing the few meters to that unlimited-air-fill known as the above-water realm. The fish was basically buried in the sand when Jonno found it and had already wiggled its way halfway back under, covering itself by flipping sanmd over its back with its large pectoral fins, by the time I took this photo.(Restorf Island, Kimbe Bay)