Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Antennarius pictus
- Common name
- Painted frogfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Antennariidae
- Genus
- Antennarius
- Size
- 10–30 cm
- Depth
- 0–75 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Antennarius pictus reaches 30 cm. Frogfish with round stocky body, extremely variable color and pattern (red, yellow, orange, brown, green, white, black, marbled), tubercles and appendages mimicking sponges, algae, coral debris. Highly developed cephalic lure (illicium) with worm-shaped esca used for fishing. Lives from 0 to 75 m on coral and rocky reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Lightning ambush predator (1/6000 sec suction). Signature macro photo subject of Lembeh, Anilao dives.
Photo of Painted frogfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Painted frogfish?
- Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) reaches 10–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Painted frogfish?
- Painted frogfish is found between 0–75 m deep.
- Is the Painted frogfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Painted frogfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Painted frogfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Antennarius
- Antennarius commerson - Commerson's frogfish
- Antennarius striatus - Striated frogfish
- Antennarius avalonis - Roughjaw frogfish
- Antennarius sanguineus - Bloody frogfish
Other species in the family Antennariidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 217851)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5214754)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia