Painted Frogfish (Antennarius pictus) - Indonesia

Frogfish are lie & wait carnivorous predators. They have an appendenge above their head which is waved about to attract prospective prey. All frogfish have large mouths are are capable of swallowing prey to their own size. Rather than swim above the bottom, they walk along the substrate using their pectral fins. Frogfish inhabit reef areas to a depth 73 m. Often within one species there will be several different colour variations or phases; brown, black, yellow, white, yellow, red and orange being the most common. Some species have hairy variations and maybe covered in numberous small wart-like knobs. Frogfish have been known to mimic the colours of the surrounding terrain (ie sponges & ascidians). Variable size depending species. Length 2 - 30 cm

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Filename: 9540 30 Dec 2005 20D.JPG
Copyright: © Iain D. Williams, All Rights Reserved www.AnaspidesPhotography.net
Image Size: 1500x1000 / 399.8KB; www.AnaspidesPhotography.net; Indonesia North Sulawesi Underwater Marine Life Fishes Bony Fishes Osteichthyes Frogfishes Antennariidae
Contained in galleries: Frogfish & Leaf Fish

Frogfish are lie & wait carnivorous predators. They have an appendenge above their head which is waved about to attract prospective prey. All frogfish have large mouths are are capable of swallowing prey to their own size. Rather than swim above the bottom, they walk along the substrate using their pectral fins. Frogfish inhabit reef areas to a depth 73 m. Often within one species there will be several different colour variations or phases; brown, black, yellow, white, yellow, red and orange being the most common. Some species have hairy variations and maybe covered in numberous small wart-like knobs. Frogfish have been known to mimic the colours of the surrounding terrain (ie sponges & ascidians). Variable size depending species. Length 2 - 30 cm