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COLLECTABLES | FISH ID The sea creatures collectable item With compliments By Brian Ring and Dennis King. Images by Dennis King. Frogfish CUT THIS SECTION OUT AND COLLECT Antennariidae " This interesting fish is called a frogfish because of its habit of moving around on the reef in small “hops”. Another common name for it is anglerfish. The reason for this is that the first dorsal spine is highly modified into a fishing rod, called an illicium, with a bait or lure at the end, called an esca. They are small fish, less than 34cm in length and have a globular body form. Their pectoral fins are highly modified to resemble arms with hands, both in appearance and in use. The gill openings are small and round, while the mouth is very large, extendable and directed upward. They may also be extremely well camouflaged, resembling reef sponges, algae or sea squirts. They are able to change their skin pigmentation to resemble the patch of reef upon which they are situated. Frogfish lack scales and instead are armed with dermal spinules. 52 | SUBMERGE Let the dive begin These voracious predators are known to consume fish of equal size to themselves by swallowing their prey whole, after luring them in by dangling the esca near their mouths. The strike of this fish – which includes opening its mouth to 12 times its normal size, sucking in the prey and water and closing its mouth – takes six to seven thousandths of a second. Locomotion may be either by “walking” on their pectoral fins, by swimming using their caudal fins or by propelling themselves forward by directing jets of water out of their gill slits. They are usually found on coral and rocky reefs. Gravid (pregnant) females may release as many as 250 000 eggs in a buoyant gelatinous raft, which are subsequently fertilised by an accompanying male. This fascinating family consists of 43 species of which nine are found in our area. S FISH ID | COLLECTABLES Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus). Sargassum frogfish (Histrio histrio). Attains 19cm and is rare. Colour is mottled green with numerous fleshy weed-like dermal appendages blending with the floating sargassum seaweed in which it is usually found. Adults of this species are almost always found near the surface, but the larval and postlarval specimens (up to 4mm in length) have been found at depths from 50m to 600m. Feeds primarily on fish, polychaete worms, planktonic crustaceans and shrimps. This species is also more likely to eat members of its own kind. The stomach of a large sargassum frogfish has contained as many as 12 smaller individuals. CUT THIS SECTION OUT AND COLLECT Attains 24cm and is rare. This fish can be dark blue or black (sometimes this colour phase has orange spots), yellow, yellowish green, dark green, orange, dark brown, tan, bright red or brick red. Darker individuals often have white-tipped pectoral rays, and all colour forms regularly have dark spots of varying size. It is usually associated with sponges, coral rubble, macroalgae or live corals during the day, but often moves into more exposed areas on sand and mud at night. It has also been found among floating algae. Typically found from 1m to 75m. The esca is an elongated tuft or flattened appendage. Diet includes fish and crustaceans. " Striped frogfish (Antennarius striatus). Attains 22cm and is rare. Colour can vary with records of yellow, green, brown, black and even red. The colour can be uniform but typically has dark streaks or blotches radiating out from the eye. The esca is typically two to five worm-like tentacles and releases a scent that is attractive to other fish. This could be one of the reasons why this fish is found in water over 200m deep. Found on coral and rocky reefs but also abundant on sandy and muddy surfaces. Diet includes fish and crustaceans. Giant frogfish (Antennarius commerson). Attains 30cm and is rare. This is the largest and most common frogfish in our waters. Colours vary tremendously, but are typically similar to the sponges and soft coral hideouts that this fish seems to prefer. Occurs singly, in pairs and sometimes in trios. Typically on coral reefs deeper than 15m and shallower than 50m. The esca is a small tuft of flattened appendages. Diet is mainly fish. December/January 2013 SUBMERGE | 53