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Angler and/or Frogfishes, Family Antennariidae:
I have never been to a place where there were so many species and individual
Frogfishes than Indonesia as a country. All told there are some fourteen species
to be found here, mainly in mucky and sandy/mud settings, near sponges that they
mimic as camouflage principally. Easily approached (once found!), make sure your
camera is focused on the specimen's heads and eyes turned toward you.
| Antennarius commerson (Latreille 1804), the Giant or
Commerson's Anglerfish. At right a ten incher in N. Sulawesi. Below (black)
one incher, caught in Hawai'i. A yellow one at Elmer's in Pittsburgh, PA.
Others from N. Sulawesi To 13 inches in length. Widespread in the
Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to Hawai'i. Occurs in nearly all colors, patterns (w/
the exception of blue!) matching sponges they're found in association with.
Also often identified under the pseudonym A. moluccensis.
Distinguished from other similar looking Anglers (e.g. A. pictus) by
having a greater number of fin rays: anal (typically 8), dorsal (13), and
pectoral (11). |
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| Antennarius hispidus (Bloch & Schneider 1801),
the Hairy or Shaggy Anglerfish. Indo-Pacific; particularly Malaysia,
Indonesia. To eight inches in length. Coastal bays near camouflaging
sponges. Occur in oranges, tans, yellows. N. Sulawesi images. You can
tell this species apart from the similar A. striatus by its pom-pom
like esca. |
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| Antennarius maculatus (Desjardin's 1840), the Clown
Anglerfish. Indo-Pacific. To four inches in length. Often seen out in the
open, especially when small, apparently mimicking toxic nudibranchs. Most
are white with orange or red mottling, but many colors exist. Have
prominent illicia ("fishing poles" that resemble small fishes.
N. Sulawesi pix of half, full and one and a half inch individuals. |
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| Antennarius pictus (Shaw & Nodder 1794), the
Painted Anglerfish. Indo-Pacific. Principally imported from Indonesia and
the Philippines. To 16 cm. overall length. Comes in all
colors, and mottled, matching with local decor. Typically found amongst
sponges, rock near the bottom or on the mud/muck. Below, N. Sulawesi
images of some of the many color and marking varieties of this species (or
multi-species complex). Distinguished by bony part of "fishing
rod" being about twice the length of second dorsal spine and
"lure" being an elongated and flat tuft. |
| Antennarius striatus, Striated Frogfish. Tropical
West Atlantic and Indo-Pacific; South Africa to Japan and New Zealand, in
mud or sand bottoms, often associated with sponges. To seven inches.
Aquarium and N. Sulawesi photos. Distinguished from the similar appearing
A. hispidus by its worm-like esca. Many pseudonyms (28) exist for this
species, including A. scaber. Males with more tufts/camouflage than
females. |
 
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| Histrio histrio (Linnaeus 1758), the Sargassum
Anglerfish, or if it were up to me, "The Incredible Eater
Upper"... To only 13 cm. but able to eat most any animal near its
length. Known from all tropical oceans, typically found
"floating" in kelp canopies or bits that are broken off.
Aquarium photos, first by RMF, second by Mike Giangrasso. |
 
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