Today we had a great snorkeling outing! Genovesa is north and away from the influence of both of the cold water currents that affect Galapagos, the Humboldt and the Cromwell currents. So, for a change, for this morning's snorkeling we had the slightly warmer water temperature of 74 degrees F. We saw many species of tropical fish as we snorkeled below the lava cliffs in Darwin's Bay. We were especially lucky to spot the king of camouflage, the stone scorpionfish.
The scorpionfish order is a very large and diverse group of fish, but all its members have a number of external characteristics in common. The character that best exemplifies the group is the bony element underneath the eye, which has given the order its English common name of "mail-cheeked fishes." The Scorpaeniformes order contains the world's most poisonous fishes. However, their poison is used solely for defense. The poisons these fish produce are neurotoxins, which affect the nervous system.
Scorpionfish are completely non-aggressive and as they are so well camouflaged they are rarely seen. The individual we found today came out of hiding and swam away once it finally realized that it had been seen!
