Algal colonization of Caribbean scorpionfishes

Forty algal species (four Cyanophyta, 20 Rhodophyta, three Chlorophyta, three Phaeophyceae and 10 Bacillariophyceae) are reported as growing on Scorpaena grandicornis Cuvier and Scorpaena plumieri Bloch from Puerto Rico. A third scorpionfish species, Scorpaenodes tredecimspinosus (Metzelaar), did not support algal growth. Algae were principally associated with the region of the head and dorsal cirri. Presence of algae undoubtedly enhances the cryptic camouflage of these fishes.