Changing color

Many of the reef fish that we encounter change color patterns over the course of their development.  And many species are capable of changing color almost instantaneously.

An example of a quick-color-change fish is the scrawled filefish.  Generally, their color has been described as ranging from pale gray to tan to olive brown. They are covered with bluish spots, black dots, and irregular lines.

This fish grows to over 2 feet long,  although the ones in the photos were just over 1 foot long. The photos were taken at depths of 40 feet or less.

 The next two photos were taken of the same individual about 5 seconds apart.  It was well camouflaged in the first photo, but blanched for the second.  Note its file (the elongated first dorsal spine) is elevated in both photos.