at night to feed on small fishes and small crustaceans. The fin spines are venomous. This species has been observed to have unusual feeding behaviour, as it approaches prey it snaps its dorsal fin spines and shakes its head from side-to-side. This be designed to distract, or possibly even attract, the prey to the fish. It has also been suggested that the fleshy tentacles on the upper jaw, which give it the name of "Fu-Manchu lionfish" in the aquarium trade, may be used to attract prey to within striking distance. These fish stalk prey by moving stealthily along the substrate or around reef structures, moving forward, either by “hopping” on the pelvic fins or by sinuously waving its caudal fin until it is around half its body length from its quarry, when it makes a rapid lunge and ingests the prey. Utilisation Dendrochirus biocellatus appears occasionally in the aquarium trade. They are considered to be moderately difficult to keep in aquaria and not for beginners. References External links biocellatus Fish described in 1938 Taxa named by Henry Weed Fowler