the non-literal stonefish are terrifying
Yeh benthic stonefish are crazy-good at hiding in those deepwater hidey-holes, it's a wonder they never evolved to bite ya toes off. Probably because it's dark. Also their bad eyesight. The crazy shortage of benthic optometrists doesn't help either, otherwise they'd totally get away with it.
Pelagic stonefish are blue on the bottom and white on the top so you'd think they're easy prey but in a giant stroke of luck they're slightly top-heavy, so always go upside-down while swimming. These ones like toes a whole lot more but they're always looking towards the seabed so rarely come across a nice spread of delectable phalanges.
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Oh. whoops.
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I though you meant littoral stonefish.
Never mind!