These colorful fish neither look like a frog or a fish …. but one thing for sure – they are very good at camouflage.
As juveniles, they are very brightly colored. Bright yellows, reds and greens are common. As they get older, they’re skin grows algea on it enabling the fish to look exactly like whatever it is perched upon. They are adept at mimicing the reef or colored sponges.
It swims by forcing water through its mouth, forcing it out projections behind it fins – jet propelling itself through the water. However, it spends most of its time sitting perched on a rock, coral or sponge waiting for its prey to swim by. It has a small “fishing pole” on its dorsal fin which it uses to bring an unsuspecting fish close enough to eat.
photos courtesy Sandi Strickland