Rare sighting on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Rare Weedy Scorpionfish sighted by divers on the Great Barrier Reef

A rare fish, the Weedy Scorpionfish, has been sighted on several occasions this week at a dive site on the Great Barrier Reef.  The marine creature was spotted by divers on the Pavona reef site, exclusively accessed by dive boat Silversonic.  Pavona, located at the front side of the outer Agincourt reef, is a site only used in light northerly winds.  Due to the ideal weather conditions this past week, divers have been visiting the site and catching a glimpse of the rare fish.

Weedy Scorpionfish - Pavona Reef

Dougie Baird, Environmental and Compliance Manager, Quicksilver Group said: 

“This Scorpionfish is a beautiful rare fish species and was first described in 1973.  This species is a master at camouflage and blends in well with its background and can be seen hiding under plate corals or on coral ledges. It has a distinctive head shape, large upturned mouth, dangly tentacles on the snout and varies in colour to blend into the environment.  The 3 dorsal spines are venomous.   They are ambush predators and feed on other fish.  They are known to “ambush” other fish by walking on their pectoral fins instead of swimming and can grow up to 30cms. This is a special experience for the Silversonic divers who came up close and personnel to this marine life wonder.”

 

(Queensland 6 February 2013)