Cockatoo Waspfish

The Cockatoo Waspfish is a bizarre and fascinating oddball species that has evolved to mimic a dead leaf drifting in the current. Its laterally compressed, tall body is adorned with a dramatically elevated, spiny dorsal fin reminiscent of a cockatoo's crest, which gives the species its common name. The body color varies from brown to maroon, reddish, or nearly black, with irregular mottling and textured skin that enhances its leaf-like camouflage. When resting on the substrate or drifting in the current, it is virtually indistinguishable from a piece of dead vegetation or algae.

In the wild, Ablabys taenianotus is found throughout the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Western Pacific from Indonesia and the Philippines to Australia and Papua New Guinea. It inhabits sandy, muddy, and rubble bottoms in sheltered bays, harbors, and reef margins at depths of 1 to 15 meters. It is primarily nocturnal, spending daylight hours resting motionlessly on the substrate or swaying gently in the current to enhance its leaf mimicry. At night, it becomes an active ambush predator, using its camouflage to surprise small fish and crustaceans that approach too closely.

The Cockatoo Waspfish is classified as expert-only due to a critical safety consideration: its dorsal spines are venomous and can deliver an extremely painful sting comparable to a wasp sting, which is the origin of its common name. While not life-threatening to most adults, the venom can cause intense localized pain, swelling, and in some cases systemic reactions. Extreme caution must be exercised during tank maintenance, netting, and handling. Beyond the safety concern, the species is challenging due to its preference for live food and its nocturnal, sedentary lifestyle that makes feeding assessment difficult.