In situ Observation of Scorpionfish in Seagrass Meadows of he Gulf of Mannar, India

The seagrass meadows of Sethukarai coast are unique in nature, housing high faunal diversity compared to other coastal areas. A rare live specimen of bandtail scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis neglecta was found near a burrow dug by an alpheid shrimp. Taxonomy, mor-phometric and meristic characters, adaptive, beha-vioural and colour-switching physiological camouflage trait of the S. neglecta are elaborated in this commu-nication. Visual in situ documentation of feeding ha-bits of scorpaenids and their preying behaviour, especially that of lionfish Pterois volitans preying on goby fish is presented. Mutualism exhibited by goby fish Amblyeleotris gymnocephala with the alpheid shrimp Alpheus rapax and the importance of habitat protection from anthropogenic activities are also dis-cussed.