Ryan Photographic - Antennariidae - Anglerfishes, frogfishes

Family Antennariidae

Antennariidae, known as frogfishes in much of the English-speaking world and anglerfishes in Australia, are found mainly between 20 degrees north and south of the equator. The sargassumfish Histrio histrio is an obvious exception and may drift well out of this range on its host Sargassum seaweed. Although the giant frogfish (see immediately below) reaches a length of 37.5 cm (15 inches for you Americans who don't understand the metric system) they are mostly much smaller than this.

Frogfishes are globular with fleshy pectoral and pelvic fins with which they can walk along the bottom (who says fish can't walk). The video below shows a male striated frogfish pursuing a female.

Frogfishes are capable of slow color change and are typically highly cryptic. Some species, such as the striated frogfish, can grow fleshy skin filaments which disguise their outline.

Most frogfishes possess a fishing rod called the illicium (the modified first dorsal fin) which has a lure (the esca) at the tip. Frogfishes wave this backwards and forwards when potential prey comes within range. The victim is ingested by an extraordinary inrush of water which is induced by enlarging the mouth cavity - up to 12 times its normal volume. Slow motion video shows that the strike occurs in 6 milliseconds, faster than muscles can contract - so we still have much to learn about how they do this.

I once attempted to photograph a pair of sargassumfish which our boatman had scooped into a bucket along with their host Sargassum weed. Within a few seconds the larger one ingested the small one and during a topping up of the bucket the survivor swam back into the water. Cannibalism is apparently reasonably common which makes mating a risky activity for the male.

In some species, large numbers of eggs (up to 180,000 in the sargassumfish) are released into the water. When they hatch, the youngsters drift in the plankton for several weeks before settling out on the bottom. Some species brood eggs, while others attach them to rocks and guard them.

On a personal note, I think these guys are amazingly cool. Every time I have seen one I have been stunned by their extraordinary shape, coloration and behaviors. I doubt I will ever become tired of photographing these fabulous animals.

According to the authoritative website FishBase there are currently 50 species of frogfish in 14 genera. But for the most authoritative information check out this amazing book by Theodore W. Pietsch and Rachel J. Arnold, with over 500 color images it offers the best information available (and thanks to Ted for helping me with my IDs on this page).

Antennarius coccineus Scarlet frogfish