Picasso Fish

Reminiscent of a fragmented cubist painting or a painter’s color pallette, the Picasso Fish’s tan body is marked with bands of white extending from a large black abstract shape, with vibrant blue and black stripes, a yellow stripe going from cheek to cheek, Joker-style, and a small patch of black and white polka dots at the tail. With lips that could pass for a human's, you don’t want to confuse those lips with your lover’s, as the picasso fish is notorious for vigorously protecting its territory, and is not shy about using its large teeth and powerful jaws on an intruder’s flesh. 

The picasso fish has a unique way of forming their shelter, which they do under a solid object by placing their mouth against it and swimming like Michael Phelps, so fast as to create a current that moves the sand away. Doing its best impression of the superhero Wolverine, the picasso fish can stretch their spines to shield themselves from predators. Growing up to 25cm, they can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and they share their Hawaiian name, Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, with the Hawaii state fish, aka the reef triggerfish.