Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Histrio histrio
- Common name
- Sargassumfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Antennariidae
- Genus
- Histrio
- Size
- 5–20 cm
- Depth
- 0–10 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific
Description
Histrio histrio reaches 20 cm. Small frogfish unique for its pelagic habitat: lives clinging to floating sargassum mats (Sargassum) in open sea. Yellow-brown to olive-green body covered with skin papillae and branched appendages mimicking sargassum algae. Lives from 0 to 10 m depth in circumglobal tropical sargassum mats (Atlantic, Indo-Pacific). Ambush predator of small fish and invertebrates associated with sargassum. Rare specialist photo subject of pelagic open-water dives.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Sargassumfish?
- Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio) reaches 5–20 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Sargassumfish?
- Sargassumfish is found between 0–10 m deep.
- Is the Sargassumfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Sargassumfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Sargassumfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific.
Other species in the family Antennariidae
- Antennarius pictus - Painted frogfish
- Antennarius commerson - Commerson's frogfish
- Antennarius striatus - Striated frogfish
- Antennarius avalonis - Roughjaw frogfish
- Antennarius sanguineus - Bloody frogfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 126533)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia