What is this Leaf Fish doing?

[Chad_Ordelheide]

I got this shot which made my whole weekend. I only saw the fish do this twice and I was lucky enough to catch it the second time. Does anybody know exactly why the Leaf Fish open their mouth like this? I can only assume its for feeding, but there was not food around? Thanks for you help!

 

[Mike Veitch]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outstanding Chad! i haven't seen a leaf fish do this but have seen frog, scorpion, and lionfish do it..all relatives

I think just stretching their jaws!?! just a guess

Or of course it could be yawning.. i mean it gets boring after a while sitting there.. ha ha

 

[Mrs.Prages]

I don't have any scientific information for you, but wow that is a really neat shot.

 

[LeslieH]

My fish books say it's a sign of agression, the equivalent of gorillas standing up & beating their chests. Basically they're saying "get out of my face, dude!"

 

[justleesa]

Very cool! Didn't think they could open their little mouths that wide!

 

[Iruka]

Great shot, Chad (This is Chris from "down the hill" from where you work. I sometimes jog around SDA with my dog at night lately...anything to get off the roads.) I have quite a few leaf fish photos, but done of them doing that. One place I can almost ALWAYS find leaf fish is at Barracuda Rock....just to the left of that big overhanging cliff, there's a pile of rocks assembled by bored divers, I guess....anyhow, in that area, or farther left I usually find leaf fish...found 3 there once. White, purple, green.

 

[Jcsgt]

Excellent shot!! I've seen grouper do that when I've gotten just a wee bit close!

 

[archman]

It's eating one of those "ultra transparent salps", can't you see it?!

 

[LeslieH]

It's eating one of those "ultra transparent salps", can't you see it?!

And no doubt photographed using a "transparent aluminum" housing.....

 

[archman]

And no doubt photographed using a "transparent aluminum" housing.....

Star Trek IV (1986). Beat out by Top Gun in the box office.