Spiny leaf fish

Scientific name : Ablabys macracanthus

Laterally compressed body, high sail like dorsal fin, starting on the head, anteriorly to the eye. Vertical head profile, small mouth. Brown colour, more or less dark. Large pectoral fins. 18 cm. When observed by divers, often it rocks sideways pushing alternatively with the 2 pectoral fins, as a leaf moved by the surge. Very similar to Ablabys taenianotus, it is distinguished by the dorsal fin starting in front of the eye (instead of over the eye).
The very similar A. binotatus lives in the Indian ocean.
Possible confusion also with the leaf scorpion fish Taenianotus triacanthus, at least in its brown colour form, but the latter has larger head and mouth (typical of scorpion fishes).

	Description	Author	Place	Size
	Ablabys macracanthus	MATTEO GUARDINI	Indonesia, Lembeh strait	462 kB
	Ablabys macracanthus	DANIELE IOP	Indonesia, Lembeh strait	1102 kB