Pleated toadfish
Photo by Graham Heiberg
This fish is one which appears relatively often as a question on SURG, and is usually mistaken for a scorpionfish, like this one was. It does resemble a scorpionfish somewhat, and as the scorpionfish is considered a "better" find, because of the excitement of finding these in our cold Cape Town waters not having worn off (besides, it is a dangerous fish, which causes it to rise in the ranks of interesting fish to see), it is often misidentified. Other fish the toadfish resembles include a number of blennies and klipfish, which are also often better known, by name at least, by divers. This toadfish, however, can be identified very easily, as it is comparatively "squat" - that is, dorsally depressed. This, together with the wide mouth and wrinkly skin, make it quite distinctive. It is moderately common in some parts of False Bay, notably the wreck of the Clan Stuart, where it regularly seen on night dives. This individual was photographed on one of the Smitswinkel Bay wrecks, at depth, which is somewhat more unusual.
For more details, see "Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", available from SURG and better Cape Town dive stores.
Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, a divers' identification guide, G Zsilavecz, 2005.