Clown Frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) in Samal, Philippines

Photo by Blogie

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

This is a juvenile clown frogfish (also known as Warty Frogfish), and as a means of self-preservation, it mimics a sponge or a nudibranch. Its yellow-colored skin is pockmarked and also has pinkish blotches. As an adult, it will have more pronounced warts all over its body. It has a dorsal spine and a shorter appendage above its head where its lure is attached.

They feed on small fish, crustaceans and worms, and grow to a length of about 10cm.

Habitat:

Juveniles are known to prefer open areas of rubble, in shallow, sheltered reefs, usually where there is rich sponge growth. Adult anglers are commonly found among sponges. They are usually found at depths of 1 to 15m. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

I spotted this intriguing fellow at a depth of nearly 20m, at a dive site called "Cesca Garden" (Talikud Island, Samal). From a short distance, I thought it was a sponge, but it moved its lure and that gave him away! It measured about 6cm.

This was a rare find!!

Reference Links:

Warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (10)

LisaPowers

Project Noah Fact of the Day: The clown frogfish, aka warty frogfish, has the capacity to change coloration and pigment pattern in a few weeks. However, the dominant coloration goes from white to black, passing through a whole range of related nuances such as cream, pink, yellow, red, and brown, often with dark, circular spots and/or with saddles. It lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from Mauritius and Reunion Island of the center of the Indian Ocean to the western part of the Pacific Ocean. ~Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warty_frogfish Clown Frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) spotted in Davao Del Norte, Philippines by PN user Blogie. https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10156666597055603/?type=3&theater

Blogie

Updated this spotting with an edited video -- I had mistakenly labeled the frogfish as "painted frogfish" in the previous video.

Blogie

Thanks Kathrin. This was actually the first frogfish I spotted on my own. :)

KathrinHachenberg

Great find!

Blogie

Thank you, williefromwi :)

williefromwi

Beautifully captured Blogie, and very nice video too!

Blogie

Thanks for this and all your other wonderful comments, MayraSpringmann! :)