Frogfish

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Frogfishes are a family, Antennariidae, of anglerfishes. They are found in tropical oceans and seas around the world.["Antennariidae"]. FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.

They are small fishes with large globose heads. They can be distinguished from other anglerfishes by the three extended dorsal fin spines on their heads. They are mostly bottom-dwelling fishes that are well camouflaged; they employ the first dorsal spine as a fishing lure to attract prey.

The sargassumfish, Histrio histrio, is unique among frogfishes in that it clings to floating Sargassum weed.

Species

There are 44 species in twelve genera:

• Genus Allenichthys
• * Glauert's anglerfish, Allenichthys glauerti (Whitley, 1944).
• Genus Antennarius
• * Tail-jet frogfish, Antennarius analis (Schultz, 1957).
• * Roughbar frogfish, Antennarius avalonis Jordan & Starks, 1907.
• * Island frogfish, Antennarius bermudensis Schultz, 1957.
• * Brackishwater frogfish, Antennarius biocellatus (Cuvier, 1817).
• * Scarlet frogfish, Antennarius coccineus (Lesson, 1831).
• * Commerson's frogfish, Antennarius commerson (Latreille, 1804).
• * New Guinean frogfish, Antennarius dorehensis Bleeker, 1859.
• * Side-jet frogfish, Antennarius duescus Snyder, 1904.
• * Shaggy angler, Antennarius hispidus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).
• * Indian frogfish, Antennarius indicus Schultz, 1964.
• * Warty frogfish, Antennarius maculatus (Desjardins, 1840).
• * Longlure frogfish, Antennarius multiocellatus (Valenciennes, 1837).
• * Spotfin frogfish, Antennarius nummifer (Cuvier, 1817).
• * Ocellated frogfish, Antennarius ocellatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).