Weird fish of the week | 水產百科網

...weirdfishissurelyoneofthemoreoddspeciesregularlyofferedforsaleinthemarinehobby,Monocentrisjaponica,commonlyknownasthePineconefish.

This weeks weird fish is surely one of the more odd species regularly offered for sale in the marine hobby, Monocentris japonica, commonly known as the Pinecone fish.

These spiky customers certainly live up to their common name with a body covered in large bony scutes, (plate-like scales), most of which are topped with ridges or spines.

Each of these armour plates is boldly edged in black which contrasts beautifully with their largely yellow body.

If this fearsome protective covering fails to ward off the unwanted attentions of any hungry passing predators then the fish is also equipped with enlarged, lockable dorsal and pelvic fin spines to stick in the throat of anything foolhardy enough to try swallowing them.