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Above: Ambon Scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) in Ellen<br />
Thaler’s aquarium.<br />
Left: The Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) can be<br />
smooth or, like this specimen, covered in masses of appendages.<br />
or shrimp. Once acclimated, however, they are easy to<br />
maintain. It is important to use dim illumination, as<br />
they are not happy under very bright light.<br />
DISTRIBUTION<br />
The natural distribution of the Ambon Scorpionfish is<br />
in the western Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Papua<br />
New Guinea and north to Japan; occasional specimens<br />
have also been found at the Ryukyu Islands, Sulawesi,<br />
Vietnam, Madras, and the eponymous island of Ambon.<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
The Ambon Scorpionfish can attain a body length of 4.75<br />
inches (12 cm). Because their most important characteristic<br />
is their ability to vary their external appearance<br />
to match their surroundings, they are easily confused<br />
with other very similar species—especially those of the<br />
genus Rhinopias, in particular the Weedy Scorpionfish<br />
(Rhinopias frondosa), which, however, is twice as big at<br />
9.5 inches (24 cm) long. Both species exhibit the typi-<br />
116 CORAL
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