DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

Blink and you miss it John Magee The Yellow spotted Scorpion fish.

The Yellow spotted scorpion fish is a miniature nocturnal ambush predator. During the day they hide mainly in Pocillopora coral heads. Their name is Sebastapistes cyanostigma. If one inspects these heads carefully, they can be seen hiding deep in the coral. They are one of the smallest Scorpion fish. Perhaps because of their nocturnal habits and their size very little is known about them and their habits. They are found along the Eastern and Southern coastlines of Australia. They are particularly abundant in the Great Barrier Reef region and extends from Queensland down to parts of northern New south Wales, the red sea to South Africa and Japan and across the Pacific Ocean. They are a visually striking species with a distinct appearance. It has very poisonous spines on its back which are highly venomous.

At night they can emerge and position themselves in a suitable spot to ambush prey. There will often be three or four in a small area within ten to twenty centimetres of each other. Pairs are commonly seen being opportunistic carnivores preying on small fish and invertebrates their camouflage helps them blend in very well with their surroundings. Yellow spotted scorpion fish follow a unique reproductive strategy called “broadcast spawning”. During the breeding season which generally occurs from spring to early summer, males and females release their eggs and sperm into the water simultaneously and this allows fertilisation to occur externally. So keep your eyes open for these little guys they are so pretty but very dangerous. John Magee’s Blink and you will miss it .

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Dive Log Australasia #410 February 25

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