David Hall / Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) with open mouth. Pantar, Indonesia.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Mozambique scorpionfish (Parascorpaena mossambica) with distinctive horns. Xiaoliuqiu Island, Taiwan

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus), Anilao, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis), Sulu sea, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) on the sand which it imitates and whose has been cut by a predator, Sulu sea, Philippines

Pascal Kobeh / Wispy / Longspine waspfish (Paracentropogon longispinis), Sulu sea, Philippines

Tony Wu / Demon stinger (Inimicus didactylus) sitting on the sand with venomous spines on full display. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi.

Georgette Douwma / Devilfish /Stinger (Inimicus didactylus). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Devilfish / Stinger (Inimicus didactylus). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Pascal Kobeh / Cockatoo waspfish (Ablabys taenianotus) on the sand, Sulu Sea, Philippines

David Fleetham / Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) keeping an eye on passing Nudibranch (Miamira alleni), Philippines.

David Fleetham / Cockatoo waspfish (Ablabys taenianotus) on sea floor. Philippines.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Close up of eye of a Mozambique scorpionfish (Parascorpaena mossambica) Pak Lap Tsai, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China.

Magnus Lundgren / Wild Wonders of China / Ocellated waspfish (Apistus carinatus) Shelter Island, Sai Kung archipelago, Hong Kong, China.

Georgette Douwma / Lacy or Merlot scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) Papua New Guinea.

Georgette Douwma / Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a Pacific monkeyfish (Erosa erosa) lying in ambush on a sandy seabed. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Spiny devilfish or Stinger (Inimicus didactylus). Ambon, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa). Ambon, Indonesia.

Alex Mustard / Mirrored portrait of a Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea. Digitally manipulated (the face is reflected down mid-line).

Constantinos Petrinos / Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Constantinos Petrinos / Devil stinger (Inimicus didactylus) venomous species, . Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Constantinos Petrinos / Spiny leaf-fish (Ablabys macracanthus) Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Constantinos Petrinos / Cockatoo leaf-fish (Ablabys taenianotus) Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Alex Mustard / Longfin waspfish (Apistus carinatus) with its distinctive pectoral fins extended, on the sand at night. Anilao, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Georgette Douwma / Demon stinger or Devil stinger (Inimicus didactylus). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Alex Mustard / Mozambique scorpionfish (Parascorpaena mossambica) two males disputing territory on the seabed, yawning is a threat display, Dauin, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, tropical west Pacific Oce...

Tony Wu / Bright red and orange pitted stonefish (Erosa erosa) in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tony Wu / Bright red and orange pitted stonefish (Erosa erosa) in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tony Wu / Lacy scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) Papua New Guinea

Tony Wu / Lacy scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) Black and Silver dive site near Nuakata Island in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea

Tony Wu / Merlet's scorpionfish (Rhinopias aphanes) Papua New Guinea

Tony Wu / Purple weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) Ambon, Indonesia

Tony Wu / Purple paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) Ambon, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) covered in weed. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / Cockatoo waspfish (Alabys taenianotus) pair. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Daniel Heuclin / Stone-fish (Synanceia verrucosa) venom milking.

Pascal Kobeh / Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) close up, highly venomous species. Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Pascal Kobeh / Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) close up, highly venomous species. Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Pascal Kobeh / Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) highly venomous species, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Pascal Kobeh / Spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) camouflaged on sand, Manado, Indonesia. Sulawesi Sea.

Pascal Kobeh / Spiny devilfish (Inimicus didactylus) camouflaged on sand, Manado, Indonesia. Sulawesi Sea.

Alex Mustard / Devil scorpionfish (Inimicus didactylus) moves across sandy seabed. Dauin, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) moving across the seabed. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Alex Mustard / Backlit portrait of Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) on rubble slope. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of Paddle-flap scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) on rubble slope. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Alex Mustard / Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) on coral rubble slope. Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea.

Alex Mustard / Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) on coral rubble slope. Sedum, Bali, Indonesia. Java Sea.

Alex Mustard / Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) hiding amongst rocks in shallow water. Seraya, Bali, Indonesia. Java Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying in a hole amongst corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surfa...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying in a hole amongst corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surfa...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying in a hole amongst corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surfa...

Georgette Douwma / Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) in a mating congregation, the males jostling for position and swimming over the females. The female stonefish releases its eggs on the bottom of the sea floor, th...

Georgette Douwma / A group of Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) in a mating congregation, the males jostling for position and swimming over the females. The female stonefish releases its eggs on the bottom of the se...

Georgette Douwma / A group of five Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) in a mating congregation, the males jostling for position and swimming over the females. The female stonefish releases its eggs on the bottom of t...

Georgette Douwma / A group of five Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) in a mating congregation, the males jostling for position and swimming over the females. The female stonefish releases its eggs on the bottom of t...

Georgette Douwma / A group of six Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) in a mating congregation, the males jostling for position and swimming over the females. The female stonefish releases its eggs on the bottom of th...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying on top of corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surface and m...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying in a hole amongst corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surfa...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) well camouflaged overgrown with algae, lying in a hole amongst corals. Algae (including macroalgae, like Padina) and sessile invertebrates often grow on its body surfa...

Georgette Douwma / Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa). This individual, having just shed its cuticle, is vivid pink, red and purple, resembling a coralline algae encrusted rock. It is one of the most venomous fish curren...

Birgitte Wilms / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), Papua New Guinea

Jeff Rotman / Two-stick / Filament finned stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus) camouflaged, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel

Jeff Rotman / Two-stick / Filament finned stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus) Red Sea, Egypt

Jeff Rotman / Two-stick / Filament finned stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus) camouflaged, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel

Fred Bavendam / Demon Stinger (Inimicus caledonicus) caught in derelict fishing net, an example of ghost fishing, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

Fred Bavendam / Esturine Stonefish (Synanceia horrida), Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

Fred Bavendam / Esturine Stonefish (Synanceia horrida) camouflaged on rocks, Exmouth, Australia

Fred Bavendam / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) mimics coral reef, Bali, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus) portrait, venomous species, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus), venomous species, Indonesia

Chris Newbert / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus), venomous, Papua New Guinea

Birgitte Wilms / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus) portrait, 80 feet deep, Indonesia

Norbert Wu / Two-stick Stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus) extremely venomous, usually hides in sand, Papua New Guinea

Norbert Wu / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) camouflaged like a rock as it lays in sand, most venomous fish in the world, Solomon Islands

Chris Newbert / Two-stick Stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus) pair beginning courtship, 20 feet deep, Solomon Islands

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Gary Bell/ Oceanwide / Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Pete Oxford / Esturine Stonefish (Synanceia horrida) camouflaged in reef, Banda Sea, Indonesia

Birgitte Wilms / Bearded Ghoul (Inimicus didactylus), Papua New Guinea

Tony Wu / Purple-pink Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) sitting on ocean floor, fish blending-in perfectly with surroundings. Banda sea, Pacific ocean, Indonesia.

Georgette Douwma / RF - Tropical reef fish, composite image on black background, Radial filefish (Acreichthys radiatus), Devilfish (Inimicus didactylus), Black-spotted porcupinefish (Arothron hystrix), Puffer filefish...

Georgette Douwma / Tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Devilfish (Inimicus didactylus), Star puffer (Arothron stellatus), Striped surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus), Seahorse (Hippocampus sp.), Leaffi...

Georgette Douwma / Tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris), Squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia), Blackspotted pufferfish (Arothron nigropunctatus), Rhinopias scor...

Georgette Douwma / Tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Thornback cowfish (Lactoria fornasini), Red lionfish (Pterois volitans), Devilfish (Inimicus didactylus), Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kaud...

Georgette Douwma / Tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Black-spottted porcupinefish (Arothron hystrix), Three-spot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), Rhino...

Georgette Douwma / Tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Thornback cowfish (Lactoria fornasini), Longnose filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris), Blackbarred sandperch (Parapercis tetracantha), Lyretai...

Georgette Douwma / Blue tropical reef fish composite image on black background, Blue triggerfish (Pseudobalistes fuscus), Bicolour angelfish (Centropyge bicolor), Elongate surgeonfish (Acanthurus mata), Yellowtail tang...

Georgette Douwma / Eschmeyer's scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri), colour variations, composite image on black background, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indo-Pacific.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Orangebanded stingfish (Choridactylus multibarbs) walking into frame before turning around, Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, Florida, USA. Captive.

Alex Mustard / Pair of Bandtail waspfish (Paracentropogon zonatus) dispute territory on the seabed. Anilao, Batangas marine protected area, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.