juvenile scrawled filefish

A juvenile scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) found within the mass of sargassum. Its cryptic coloring helps it avoid preditors as it lives among the tangled mass of floating algae. This species may grow as long as two to three feet in length. Image courtesy of Islands in the Sea 2002, NOAA/OER.

Related Links

Islands in the Sea 2002

Islands in the Sea: Aug 09 Log

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery