The Pinecone Fish Armors Itself Like an Armored Vehicle, a Fascinating Creature Found in the East Sea.
The East Sea is home to many unique creatures, including the pinecone fish, which impresses with its appearance resembling a “warrior,” arming itself like an armored vehicle.
Its shape is very special, with a body covered by large scales.
The Pinecone Fish is the common name for species belonging to the family Monocentridae, found in the waters extending from southern Japan to Australia, including a portion of the East Sea. Monocentridae is a small and unusual family of marine fish within the order Beryciformes, consisting of only four species across two genera, one of which is monotypic.
Their shape is quite unique, with bodies covered by large, very hard, and thick scales, resembling a suit of armor. The scales on the posterior part of this fish even have sharp spines directed towards the tail, providing effective protection against attacks from behind. When threatened, pinecone fish can also flare their fins, turning them into sharp blades.
With a rough and sharp appearance, they resemble “armored vehicles” amidst the ocean. Other fish must “think twice” when encountering this species, as there are almost no predators capable of eating them. These fish often hide among coral reefs and rock crevices.
This species often hides among coral reefs and rock crevices.
They typically forage at night, swimming in schools, and their bodies have the ability to glow to attract prey. They can grow up to 30 cm in length when fully mature. Not only do they have an odd shape, but they also boast very eye-catching colors.
As the trend of keeping saltwater aquarium fish became popular, pinecone fish have become a hot commodity, favored by many. However, not everyone can successfully keep pinecone fish, as they are quite expensive and require strict living conditions.
