Waspfishes

Scientific name : Tetrarogidae

Small fish family (about 40 species) belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes, often considered a single family with the scorpion fishes. They are called wasp fishes due to the painful sting of their dorsal spines, or leaf fishes due to the capability of the commonest species to mimic a dead leaf.
The body is compressed laterally, the mouth is small. All the fins are rather large. The sail like dorsal fin starts on the head and joins the tail. They miss gas bladder, therefore they are bottom fishes, with a negative buoyancy.
Normally encountered in bay or in lagoon, on sandy bottoms. Often hidden among the detritus In particular, some species mimic a dead and partially decomposed leaf, in the shape, colour and also with the behaviour: when observed, pushing alternatively with the 2 pectoral fins, they rock sideways as pushed by a surge.
With this system they also approach their preys, normally shrimps and other invertebrates.
Many species are nocturnal, during the day they can bury themselves into the sediment.
Often considered part of the scorpion fishes family, they can be distinguished by the smaller mouth. Compared with the velvet fishes, they are normally more compressed.

	Description	Author	Place	Size
	Tetrarogidae	MATTEO GUARDINI	Indonesia, Lembeh strait	620 kB