39 photos - 8 species
Introduction
There are currently 49 described species.
Frogfish are usually relatively small and well camouflaged,
but are clumsy bony fish.
They have no scales and have a rod formed from the first hard ray
of the dorsal fin with an attached bait.
Depending on the species, they reach a size of 2.5 to 38 cm.
Antennarius coccineus
Scarlet or freckled frogfish
Maximum length: 12 cm
Depth: 1 - 25 m
Often a dark spot at the base of the second fin.
They come in almost all color variations, like the most common sponge colors.
Photos 1 + 3 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Photo 2 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Photo 4 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Antennarius multiocellatus
Scarlet or Freckled frogfish
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 3 - 20 m
Body with dark spots, some of which occasionally have a white border.
Their caudal fin usually has three such spots.
Just above their lip, they have a translucent dorsal fin ray,
also called a fishing rod.
There are many color variations of this animal,
from deep red, orange, yellow, green, to pink and light brown, as well as a few tints.
They also like to adapt to the background.
Lives on reef roofs, where they usually sit quietly on sponges
and are therefore very well camouflaged.
Not shy, very confident in their camouflage.
Photos 1 - 4 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 5 - 6 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photo 7 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Antennarius commerson
Commerson's frogfish or Giant frogfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 1 - 50 m
Lives in shallow coastal areas to deep habitats, but is almost always associated with sponges.
Almost all colors are possible.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photos 2 - 4 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Antennarius hispidus
Hispid frogfish, Shaggy anglerfish or Zebra anglerfish
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 3 - 90 m
In coastal bays with good sponge growth and leaf remains on the sandy bottom.
They blend in perfectly with their surroundings.
Pretty big bait.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Antennarius maculatus
Warty frogfish or Clown frogfish
Maximum length: 10 cm
Depth: 1 - 15 m
These animals camouflage themselves with their color patterns
and prefer coastal reefs with rocks.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Photos 3 - 6 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Photo 7 Johnny: Bali Indonesia
Antennarius nummifer
Spotfin frogfish, Big spot angler, Coin-bearing frogfish,
Darkspot frogfish, Ocellated angler, Ocellated fringed frog,
Opulent frogfish, Spotfin angler or White-finger anglerfish
Maximum length: 13 cm
Depth: 3 - 75 m
They are found mainly in brackish water and river mouths, but also on reefs.
Their bait often resembles a shrimp.
Very variable coloration, often with a large, dark eyespot on the soft-rayed base of the dorsal fin.
Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Antennarius pictus
Painted frogfish, Spotted frogfish, Black angler or Painted anglerfish
Maximum length: 16 cm
Depth: 3 - 70 m
Their fishing rod is twice as long as their second stingray,
very variable in color, they can adapt to their new environment within days.
Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photos 3 - 8 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Photo 9 Johnny: Bali Indonesia
Antennarius striatus
Striated frogfish or Hairy frogfish
Maximum length: 22 cm
Depth: 20 - 50 m
A very variable and beautiful species, sometimes with stripes,
but also uniformly black or spotted.
Some specimens have long hair-like skin appendages.
Photos 1 + 4 - 5 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi