The Cockatoo Waspfish is definitely not a bird or an insect, it is, indeed, one of the many beautiful Fish you can see here in Lembeh. This cool shot was taken by our guest, Volker.
The Cockatoo Waspfish comes from the Scorpionfish family. They are also known as the Leaf Fish, as they resemble a leaf, swaying in the water, which is how they ambush their prey. They have a large dorsal fin which, when spread out gives the appearance of a Cockatoo. The thorns on this dorsal fin are venomous, as this is their defense mechanism. The scientific name for this little guy is Ablabys taenianotus and we have many who choose Lembeh Strait as their home. They can grow up to 15 centimeters in length and can be found in depths from 1 meter to 18 meters.
Also seen this week in Lembeh was the Blue Ringed Octopus, several sightings of the Wunderpus and the Mimic Octopus, Ambon Scorpionfish and so much more.
Our guests came all the way from Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, Denmark, China and Australia.
The wet season is here but our days are sunny and no-one has told the critters, as they’re out and about and our guests are loving it!
Happy Bubbles!