Striated frogfish

The striated frogfish is a master of disguise that would rather sit still than swim. It looks more like a lump of sponge or weed than a fish, until its hidden fishing lure flicks out to tempt in a meal.

Also known as: spitlure frogfish, striped anglerfish, striped frogfish, striped anglerfish, spitlure frogfish, blotched anglerfish, black angler, striped angler, toadfish, splitlure frogfish, striate anglerfish, striped angler, striated anglerfish, blotched anglerfish, striate anglerfish, hairy frogfish

It is very easily confused with the closely related Antennarius hispidus, which shares similar stripes and colouring. The shape of its lure, on the tip of that forward-bent first spine, is the reliable way to tell the two apart.

This fish has a rounded, soft body covered in small, irregular, hair-like skin growths, and a very large mouth that can shoot forward to engulf prey almost as big as itself. Colour is extremely variable, ranging from yellow or brownish-orange to green, grey, brown, near-white, or solid black, often with rough parallel dark stripes or blotches, sometimes with lines radiating out from the eye. Its first dorsal spine is bent forward like a fishing rod, tipped with a worm-like lure that it waves to draw in prey. It can grow to about 25 cm, though most are closer to 10 cm.

It lives on sandy bottoms and rocky or coral reefs, from fairly shallow water down to very deep ground, though divers usually meet it in the upper part of that range. It is found widely across tropical and subtropical parts of the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic. It often matches the colour of the coral or sponge it is sitting on, making it very easy to swim past without noticing.

This is a solitary, sit-and-wait hunter that spends most of its time motionless on the bottom. It eats other fish, sometimes even its own kind, swallowing prey whole with a sudden lunge. Rather than swim, it edges along the seabed using its jointed pectoral and pelvic fins almost like legs. If disturbed, it can swell its body with water to make itself harder to swallow.

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  Frogfish

  frogfish

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  Giant frogfish

  Antennarius commerson

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  Longlure Frogfish

  Antennarius multiocellatus

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  Painted frogfish

  Antennarius pictus

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  Peixe Pescador

  Antennarius pardalis

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  Sargassum Frogfish

  Histrio histrio