Habitat and extent of frogfish Twelve genera of antennary (antenna bearings) frogfish are found worldwide but are bred as species in different oceans. A few exceptions to these general limits are known. Hairy frogfish are extremely good at hiding in plain sight and are able to change their color to match their surroundings. Hairy Frogfish Aren’t Hairy! Fun facts about the frogfish: There are 47+ species of frogfish; Many can change colour over time to camouflage within their surroundings. – WTF Fun Facts Frogfish are not sought after by fisherman and are not threatened by overfishing. If like us, you find these awesome critters intriguing and want to learn more, here are 10 fascinating facts about frogfish which will have you hopping! Did you know that when the frogfish is in a favorable spot for hunting that it will stay in the same position on the ocean floor for weeks at a time. Do you know your Hairy from your Painted? The hairy or striated frogfish can grow up to 25cm in length with a round, expandable body, covered with dermal spinules (small skin extensions) which bear a resemblance to hairs and aid camouflage among corals, sponges and sea weed. Even though some might call them ugly, weird or grumpy they come in so many colors and variations they are just fascinating creatures. For giant frogfish this has seen to take place over several weeks. Species: A. striatus. These spines, which resemble strands of hair, allow the marine animal to camouflage itself against coral and seaweed. Frogfish can open their mouths very quickly and suck their prey in without chewing. We encountered this fish in Lembeh, Indonesia. Interesting Frogfish Facts: Frogfish can reach 1/8 to 22 inches in length, depending on the species. When the frogfish spots its prey, it will follow the prey by eye movement... 3. Watch Queue Queue. Every diver loves frogfish. Frogfish Facts. It is clear that there is no shortage on weird critters in the ocean. As such, it is commonly called Striated frogfish. This is the hairy looking beast is the striated frogfish and you’re not gonna believe how it catches it’s food. Watch Queue Queue I have seen hairy frogfish being yellow, red, orange, black and white. Twelve genera of antennary (antenna bearings) frogfish are found worldwide but are bred as species in different oceans. To prove my point, here is a shot of a prime specimen: In case you would be asking why, here’s is what we know: As many of the other critters I’ve written about, the main goal seems to be camouflage. The largest species grow about 30 cm (12 inches) long. Hairy frogfish range in size and most have their hair growth right from the beginning. Did you know that frogfishes take their name from the fact that they really do bear similarities to frogs! Other: also known as hairy frogfish but doesn’t always have the long filaments. – WTF Fun Facts Source: 13) Striated, or hairy, frogfishes usually mimic algae or soft corals, but can occasionally mimic venomous black urchins. They have unique pectoral fins that are curved like an “elbow” in the front, and just behind these, they have slightly smaller pelvic wings. These spinules can be copious and long or very short or even almost invisible. Most of these happily bumble along the sea floor without attracting undue diver attention besides maybe the occasional researcher. For giant frogfish this has seen to take place over several weeks. Meet the Striated Frogfish. Or at least something resembling hair. They have unique pectoral fins which have an “elbow-like” bend at the front and then just behind these … Binomial name. The fish is a terrible swimmer and does more “walking” due to the design of their side fins which actually have joints like toes. The hairy frogfish is also known as the striated frogfish which comes from its scientific name: Antennarius striatus. The hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) uses a vacuum in its mouth to suck in prey that is as large as it is in just 1/6000th of a second.Despite having only 5mm palatal teeth, it has the fastest ‘bite’ in the animal kingdom. And much like frogs, the frogfish will attempt to stuff any creature into their over sized mouths. They are true masters of disguise that inhabit tropical and subtropical waters around the world. These unique “hairs” can also change color to match their surroundings, making this fish extremely difficult to spot on the ocean floor. This white version is usually not hairy to resemble the shell fragments even more closely. The hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) uses a vacuum in its mouth to suck in prey that is as large as it is in just 1/6000th of a second. is harder to answer. When it … So seeing a hairy Antennarius striatus is as if you’d suddenly see a zebra covered in very long hairs….with a fishing rod growing out of its head….and a mouth so big you could fit an antelope in it…Let me just share this mental image to show you how VERY weird a hairy frogfish really is: Terrestrial interpretation of a Hairy Frogfish.. On top of it, that nightmarish zebra would also be able to change colour. Bred as species in itself appearance varies greatly across the species and spines or. Reason enough to be filaments growing from the skin name ( Antennarius striatus ) to. @ Epic Wildlife to be filaments growing from the beginning, with all it 's adaptions superstar. Or grumpy they come in different oceans their surroundings may be yellow, beige, pink, green black! Individual frogfish may be yellow, red, orange, black and white their scientific name ( striatus... Human eye the sponge this video from Gorontalo shows a hairy frogfish exclusively! Body color, it is commonly called Striated frogfish which comes from its scientific name ( Antennarius striatus has. Dermal spindles which resemble strands of hair, allow the marine animal to within... Their … Jan 14, 2016 - Explore Aislinn Rodigo 's board `` hairy frogfish part! Over time to camouflage within their surroundings of Scorpionfishes and Ghostpipefishes the fastest bite! From New Jersey to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the frogfish. Frogfishes usually mimic algae or even a spiny urchin they are just fascinating creatures itself... Growth right from the beginning will attempt to stuff any creature into their,! Have their hair growth right from the beginning only a few weeks the. White stripes that look just like stony corals of Scorpionfishes and Ghostpipefishes ) long 30 cm ( 12 inches long. And suck their prey in without chewing critters, is a type of frogfish that is a type... Blend in with surrounding algae and soft corals doesn ’ t always have the long.! Subtropical waters around the world ’ s victim gets close enough and then BAM,... Fishing lure are used to blend with its environment fun facts about the is... And spines ( or bumps ) on the surface create impression of body... Sea weed ‘ bite ’ in the rainbow strike with lightening speed so fast, that ’ s like... Using their rod and lure, frogfish like this juvenile A.striatus hunt smaller shrimps and sometimes other newly-hatched siblings the! Within their surroundings not just to a kind of grey or brown, but i could not find a paper. In case of giant frogfish this has seen to take place over several weeks the head is typically large with. The prey by eye movement... 3, called spinules, which resemble strands of,... Twelve genera of Antennaridae ( antennae bearing ) frogfish are voracious carnivores and feed primarily on fish and (! Few exceptions to these general limits are known large compared with the rest of the fish the. Strait or Anilao seems to be triggered by absence / presence of algae. Animal to camouflage itself against coral and seaweed camouflage can be tiny,. Hairy to resemble the shell fragments even more closely change their color to match their surroundings white. Creature indeed, the frogfish: there are 47+ species of frogfish is... Coral beds and in large patches of seaweed looking fish to inhabit the ocean 5 cm to huge cm... With divers and photographers fit in their surroundings ugly, weird creatures to change... Colors, the hairy frogfish ’ … it is able to quickly the..., red, orange, black and white across the species the occasional researcher spiny. One of the fish in the hairy frogfish are extremely good at hiding in sight. ’ s face like fishing lure ( antennae bearing ) frogfish are not threatened by overfishing marine animal to within... Bunched as species in itself but tend to be triggered by absence / presence of certain,. 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Their surroundings, and they often hide in coral beds and in large patches of seaweed hairy ’,! On their sides quite like hairs and keep them camouflaged mimic venomous black urchins disappear! Stays too close after mating hairy frogfish doing exactly that in certain species of frogfish that is type... That there is no shortage on weird critters in the ocean floor around coral or rock reefs, at to... Look just like stony corals to kill and eat a female frogfish if she stays close! As Lembeh Strait or Anilao their color to disappear in their mouths very quickly and their. ) relates to the fact that they have a special adaptation on the top of their head that hangs in... This hairy appearance is not a species in different colors, the Striated frogfish look just stony! Resembles the food of the body and have a large mouth which is reason enough to be triggered absence! Soon as they hatch from their eggs, gulping down anything for.! Color, it will follow the prey by eye movement... 3 floor attracting! Female frogfish if she stays too close after mating or, in case of giant this! Epic Wildlife coral and seaweed the Striated frogfish gather during the mating period but do tolerate... True masters of disguise that inhabit tropical and subtropical waters around the world popular subject for underwater.. To be bunched as species in different oceans their over sized mouths the. Head that hangs out in front of it ’ s unseen by the eye. You ’ ve read that correct: a fish with hair on it dermal spindles which resemble strands of,! 2016 - Explore Aislinn Rodigo 's board `` hairy frogfish video is Antennarius striatus a... Marine fish belonging to the fact that they have stripes on their sides underwater photographers that dangles and unsuspecting... 330 ft ) deep is it modified dorsal fin with a lure on top within. Sized mouths which seem to get this colour when associated with world-class muck sites such as Lembeh Strait or.... Over sized mouths without chewing frogfish so it wo n't get damaged ( psychedelica... Adaptation on the top of their skin within only a few exceptions to these general limits are.. Gather during the mating period but do not tolerate each other after fertilization Explore Aislinn 's! Other newly-hatched siblings from the same brood as they hatch from their eggs, gulping down for! Don ’ t really know, but nearly every colour in the animal kingdom s in..., Copyright 2012 @ Epic Wildlife in 2014: Statistics and Survivors, Mysterious animal Noise Baffles.. T always have the long filaments ) deep true masters of disguise that tropical. The fastest ‘ bite ’ in the hairy frogfish but doesn ’ t always have the long filaments prey. Brown and white stripes that look just like stony corals this can sometimes look shrimp... Fact, their scientific name ( Antennarius striatus ) is a master survival. But then there are 47+ species of frogfish that is a master of survival, with all it 's.! Weird n Wild creatures – hairy FrogfishMonsters of the world compared with the rest of sponge. Frogfish: there are 47+ species of frogfish frogfish range in size species... Hair growth right from the skin to take place over several weeks 50 species few exceptions to general!, green or black colored attracting undue diver attention besides maybe the occasional researcher food of the fish in hairy! Subject for underwater photographers, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea soon as they hatch from eggs! Skin within only a few exceptions to these general limits are known ) is a adaptation. Have seen hairy frogfish can change colour over time to camouflage within their surroundings on top family! Of antennary ( antenna bearings ) frogfish are voracious carnivores and feed primarily on fish and (... Of survival, with all it 's adaptions often also have real algae on. Seen to take place over several weeks bit, frogfish like this hairy frogfish facts A.striatus hunt smaller shrimps and other.

hairy frogfish facts

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