The warty frogfish is a weird-looking fish with a very strange appearance. By the look, you can already tell that it has made many people curious about its life. This strange fish has a combination of cuteness and peculiarity, and they are quite fascinating. I am here to tell you everything I have found about this warty frog, and it will be a treat.
1Appearance
A warty frogfish reaches a size of around 15 centimeters, and it has a globulous and extensible body. The fish got its name from the numerous small wart-like protuberances on its skin and the elbow-like pectoral fins. Another interesting feature about this fish is that different living environments also mean different colorations on the fish. But that’s not all, it can also change its colors and pigment patterns within a few weeks time. Usually, the color goes from white to black, passing a whole bunch of different colors in the process. It is not uncommon to see them in brown, cream, pink, red, and yellow with dark circular spots. On top of that, this amazing fish also exhibits bioflurescence which means it is red under blue or ultraviolet light.
Warty frogfish is the one that got my attention the most but I’d like to talk about its cousins as well. Each member in the family of 9 species has a different appearance, and some can look quite grumpy. They vary in colors, shapes, and sizes, and let’s learn quick information about every single one of them below.
Clown Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Maculatus
Being so funny-looking is the reason why a clown frogfish has this name. Plus the colorations and certain angles, a clown frogfish looks so confused all the time. It has a white body with red patches.
Freckled Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennatus Coccineus
A freckled frogfish or scarlet frogfish is a shy member that often hides in reef crevices. It is also a smaller species, growing up to only around 10 centimeters long. This fish got its name from a mottled appearance along with a peppering of dark bands or spots in some individuals. The lure of this fish resembles a small tuft, and it sometimes has dark swellings at the base. It can also change colors to adapt to the environment, and those colors are brown, purple, red, tan, and yellow.
Giant Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Commerson
Perhaps not the most beautiful in the family, a giant frogfish is at least a master at camouflage. It is the largest frogfish species, growing up to 45 centimeters large. In spite of the size, the color phases that it displays allow it to blend in with its environment effortlessly. The color phases include black, brown, green, orange, pink, red, tan, yellow, and white. And while other species have lumpy skins, the skin of this one is rather smooth. As for its rod, it is very thin and the lure is bushy and white.
Hairy Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Striatus
Despite the name, the “hair” of the fish is actually thin skin appendages on the fish’s body. The density of these appendages varies according to the individual. Around 2 to 7 of the appendages are thick and worm-like, and the fish uses them to lure prey. A hairy frogfish is brownish-green in color, making it look like algae which is easy for them to camouflage. However, the ones that live near sponges are rather bright yellow or orange in color, with less “hair”.
Hispid Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Hispidus
While looking very similar to the hairy frogfish, the hispid frogfish has shorter appendages; hence the nickname shaggy frogfish. It has parallel dark stripes around its eyes The most unique feature of this one is the lure that looks like a pom-pom.
Ocellated Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Sp.
Here you are looking at one of the smallest frogfish species, reaching only 5 centimeters long. It is a large pale to orange-edged body with tiny black spots all over. Coming across one can be quite rare because it is elusive and solitary. The ocellated frogfish usually hang out around rubble and sand patches, and it is quite small.
Painted Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Pictus
Just like the name suggests, a painted frogfish has dark spots that resemble rings all over its body. The base color is black and white, bluish-gray, bright orange, brown, green, mottled brown and purple, pink, or yellow. As for the lure, it is a long and thin rod with a translucent lure that resembles a small crustacean.
Randall’s Frogfish
Scientific Name: Antennarius Randalli
Being smaller than 5 centimeters, this is the smallest frogfish species, and it has a very fascinating appearance. The fish has a rather darker color of black, brown, or red, with small to large white spots behind its eyes. Dark color is one thing, and the long claw-like pectoral fins are another interesting thing about the fish’s appearance.
Sargassum Frogfish
Scientific Name: Histrio Histrio
A sargassum frogfish has large pectoral fins with claw-like tips along with so many leafy appendages. Its color is beige, brown, cream, or green, and it has mottled dark lines on the fins. The name of the fish comes from its habitat where it drifts on sargassum seaweed.
2Behavior
Warty frogfish mainly move along the bottom of the aquarium or the sea. However, it uses its modified pectoral fins to hop or walk across the bottom instead of swimming like a normal fish. Not a surprise though, considering the name “frogfish”, its pectoral fins look like small legs of that of a frog. This behavior also helps with the fish’s daily feeding sessions. By moving slowly and stealthily, it can easily get closer to its prey without being noticed. And the quick dart allows it to catch the prey successfully.
As an ambush predator, it is quite aggressive when it comes to feeding. This fish actually goes fishing using its lure which is a fine antennae that stems from its head. The lure imitates fish, small squids, worms, and even crabs and shrimp. When fishing, it remains still while waiting for the prey to pass by. Once the prey is right in front of it, it opens its mouth incredibly fast and sucks the prey whole. No chewing is needed in the consumption process.
When it comes to personality, clown frogfish are solitary and they only come together during the breeding season. Even so, they don’t interact with each other over the boundary of fertilization. If a male gets too close or stays around too long, he will end up being killed or eaten by the female.
3Feeding & Habitats
All frogfish species are carnivorous, and they are fierce predators that attack smaller animals within their strike range. The prey can be smaller and larger fish because it has a large mouth that allows it to consume prey its size. Along with that, it also feeds on crustaceans like shrimps and small crabs if it comes across any. This marine ray-finned fish has a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific region, living in tropical waters. Their common habitats include coral reefs and sheltered rocky reefs where they can associate with sponges.
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