Scorpionfish

Ambon Scorpionfish

Scientific name: Pteroidichthys amboinensis

Stonefish

Also called: Reef stonefish

Scientific name: Synanceia verrucosa

Is that a face or what? This thing looked dead, but was definitely alive. It just wouldn't be budged from it's place on the bottom waiting for the right meal to swim by.

Spiny Devilfish

Also called: Demon Stinger

Scientific name: Inimicus didactylus

My first sighting of the Spiny Devilfish was a bit confusing. It appeared to be a fish, but it was 'walking' along the sandy bottom of the Lembeh Strait. Yes, walking, but fish don't have legs, right? Well, no, but the Spiny Devilfish does have articulated fins that allow it to walk along the bottom. Apparently, it never swims.

Smallscale Scorpionfish

Scientific name: Scorpaenopsis oxycephala

Scropionfish are usually masters of disguise, but this one can't seem to match the grassy green soft coral it's decided to rest on. You can find a lot of scropionfish on the Boonsung Wreck as well as West of Eden in the Similans.

Red Lionfish

Also called: Red Firefish, Common lionfish, Turkeyfish

Scientific name: Pterois volitans

These are quite common around Southeast Asia, but their unintentional release into the Caribbean has had a devastating impact on the sea life there, where they have no natural predators.

Ragged-finned Firefish

Also called: Broadbarred Firefish

Scientific name: Pterois antennata

Leaf Scorpionfish

Also called: Paperfish

Scientific name: Taenianotus triacanthus

Lacey Scorpionfish

Also called: Lacy Scorpionfish, Lacy Stingfish, Lacy Firefish

Scientific name: Rhinopias aphanes

I orginally mistook this for a frogfish - and I'm still not sure I've got it right, although I think I at least have it in the right group.

Flying Gurnard

Also called: Helmet gurnard

Scientific name: family Dactylopteridae

Crocodilefish

Also called: Tentacled flathead

Scientific name: family Papilloculiceps longiceps

This is one of those fish with a face that only a mother could love. The name is certainly apt, as the head and profile of the fish resembles a crocodile.