Painted Frogfish

The painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus), also known as the spotted frogfish, black angler, or painted anglerfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, commonly referred to as frogfishes. This species is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific region.

The genus name "Antennarius" is derived from the Latin "antenna," a nod to the fish's first dorsal spine, which has evolved into a tentacle-like structure on the snout that serves as a lure to attract prey. The specific name "pictus" translates to "painted," aptly describing the species' body, which was characterized by Shaw as being brown with red-margined yellow blotches.

The painted frogfish can reach a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in). Consistent with other members of its family, it features a globulous, extensible body with soft skin covered by small dermal spinules. Its skin is partially adorned with small, wart-like protuberances, variably shaped scab-like blotches, and numerous small eye spots (ocelli) resembling sponge holes. Its large, prognathous mouth enables it to consume prey of similar size. The coloring of the body is highly variable, adapting to match the surrounding environment. Frogfishes possess the remarkable ability to change their coloration and pigment pattern within a few weeks. However, dominant colors typically range from white to black, including shades of cream, pink, yellow, red, and brown, often featuring circular eye spots darker than the background color and/or saddles and blotches. Some specimens may resemble Antennarius maculatus.

To differentiate between the two closely related species, Antennarius maculatus usually displays red or orange margins on all fins, an occasional spike of the saddle blotch starting posterior to the eye, numerous warts on the skin, and few or no ocelli; whereas Antennarius pictus has three eye spots on its caudal fin. Juvenile specimens may manifest a dark background color with small yellow spots.

The first dorsal spine, or illicium, is specialized and functions as a fishing rod, with its extremity featuring a distinctive esca (lure) resembling a small fish in pinkish to brownish hues. The illicium is twice the length of the second dorsal spine and often exhibits dark banding. The second dorsal spine is nearly straight and mobile, while the third is bent toward the back of the body; both are membranously attached to the head and are well separated from each other and the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins of frogfishes are angled, aiding in movement along the seafloor and maintaining stability during ambush.

The painted frogfish is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including the eastern African coast from the Gulf of Aqaba southward to Aliwal Shoal off 🇿🇦 South Africa, extending east to Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States) and the Society Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), north to Jeju Island in Korea and the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan), and south to Western Australia's Houtman Abrolhos and Lord Howe Island. It inhabits sheltered rocky and coral reefs, with adults typically associating with sponges at depths of up to 75 meters (246 feet), though more commonly found at 15 meters (49 feet).

As a voracious carnivore and ambush predator, the painted frogfish preys on small animals within its "strike range," predominantly targeting fish, and occasionally, congeners. Its prey can approach its own size. Similar to other frogfishes, the painted frogfish exhibits a benthic and solitary lifestyle, forming pairs only during the mating period. Following fertilization, tolerance between individuals ceases, with the male potentially killing or consuming the female if proximity is maintained. The sexes are distinct, with eggs laid in a gelatinous raft, remaining therein until hatching, after which the larvae remain pelagic for their initial two months of life. This species prefers residing on or near colorful sponges and possesses the ability to alter its skin color for camouflage.

While the painted frogfish holds no significant interest for fisheries, it is occasionally featured in the aquarium trade.