Scary spines
Rockfish come in lots of different sizes and colors—there are over 100 different kinds. They have bony plates on their heads, and sharp, venomous spines on their fins. To scare off intruders, they raise their spines to make themselves look larger.
Going with the flow
Rockfish
can hover in place without sinking or floating. A gas-filled sac called a swim bladder helps them stay put without using lots of energy. When rockfish aren't feeding, they spend most of their time just "hanging out," drifting with the gentle surge.