Camouflage is an amazing thing that exists in the animal kingdom. There are animals that use mimicry It is a quality that they use different animals for their survival, both to survive and to hunt. We will talk about the rockfish survival strategy, one of the tactics it uses and that will surprise you with its details.
There are multiple animals that blend into their environment, looking for the moment to attack their prey or try to go unnoticed. Many use materials from nature, such as leaves, branches or a synthesis with the seabed itself or its habitat. We can observe it in the pygmy seahorse or in owls.
The deadly mimicry of rockfish
This animal uses a perfect camouflage system. Its appearance is presented looking like a rock or stone at the bottom of the water. It creates such a perfect mimicry that it blends perfectly with the rocks around it, as algae even grows on its body.
What does rockfish look like? It has an appearance as we have reviewed, so similar and similar to a rock or coral. They usually have a grayish appearance, with white, reddish, brown, yellow, copper or green tones. Its texture is irregular, rough and rough, with a skin impregnated with algae or lichens. These specimens usually measure about 30 to 35 centimeters, but species up to 50 centimeters have been found.
How does this rockfish feed?
This animal lives near the shores of the sea, generally next to rocks and on some ledges, up to 20 meters deep. The anatomy of this animal is quite strange, due to its appearance, since it has its mouth on the upper part of its body. He also has two eyes that allow him to be seen for what he is and obviously, breathes through gills.
Although it seems like a fish that always remains static like a rock, In reality it is a volatile animal when taking its prey. It moves at breakneck speed, but can remain in the same position all day. He even stays in the same position for days, moving several times in a week. It feeds particularly on Fish and crustaceans, as well as the goldfish. When capturing its prey, it makes a small, fast jump, captures it with its mouth and returns to its initial position.
A highly poisonous animal
Although it looks like a rock, this fish has many of the characteristics of an aquatic animal, since it has its own ventral and dorsal fins. Also, some hard rays are drawn that become thorns, where it can inject that deadly poison.
Many fishermen or travelers have encountered this animal and have had dire consequences. It is a calm animal, but if disturbed it can attack with its thorns loaded with poison, since it is one of the most poisonous animals in the sea.
This poison is found in the spines of the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, each of them loaded with poisonous glands. This substance is as powerful as that of a cobra, since it contains cytotoxins and neurotoxins. Whoever suffers a bite from this rockfish will feel great pain that will gradually radiate throughout the body. You will feel a lot of headache, high blood pressure, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures or muscle paralysis, among others. Within a few hours, cardiorespiratory arrest and death can occur.
There are people who have accidentally stepped on it and have died from its poison, but in Melbourne, Australia, They already know an effective antidote if applied right after the bite. However, its bite is very harmful, affecting cells and the nervous system. It is recommended to wash the wounds with hot water to neutralize the toxin.
Another highly poisonous fish is the puffer fish or fugu, with a variety of up to 35 types of its kind found in the seas of Japan. Most are poisonous, with a tetrodotoxin that is up to 1.000 times more potent than potassium cyanide. It has poisonous parts that will depend on where they are found due to the type of fugu, hence there are experienced experts in handling and with great skills.
There are up to 22 types of puffer fish that are used in Japanese food. It is high in proteins, minerals and vitamins, low in calories and is very delicious. The Japanese want to eat it because it strengthens health and increases beauty, but obviously, they are always afraid of not losing their lives by ingesting it.
Curiosities of this rock fish
It is a fish that lives near the shores of the sea, exactly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. They are surrounded by rocks to go unnoticed, surrounded by corals, in muddy or sandy lands.
It is one of the most dangerous animals in the world, since its venom is one of the most deadly, its venom is more powerful than that of any snake. Even of all the poisonous fish that exist, it is still the most lethal. His stingura through his fins, can be highly harmful. Its thorns are strong, sharp and rigid and they are capable of piercing even the sole of a shoe. Its poison includes powerful pain, where it produces acute stress, paralysis and tissue death. A dose of its venom can be highly fatal in children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system. As we have already mentioned, there isand a antivenom or antidote, to neutralize it.
It reproduces in the months of February and March. Like many fish in their category, they release sperm to be fertilized by the eggs laid by the female.
This fish, although highly lethal, It is also eaten by other predators, such as that of some species of sharks, sea snakes and even rays.
The rock fish can be bred in aquariums, where it does not need high salinity water to survive. If the idea lies in being able to have it in aquariums, it is because in Japan and China they have the tradition of serve this animal as a delicacy in some restaurants, which usually include the Betta fish As another option, it's served as sashimi, and if you go to a restaurant in Japan, you should ask for okoze, where you'll be served the most poisonous fish in the world.
