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Identification Key Frogfishes Tropical Australia
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Information30cm |
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Information10-16cm |
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Abantennarius dorehensis, Abantennarius coccineus and Abantennarius nummifer all belong to the genus Abantennarius (formerly Antennatus) and are difficult to distinguish from each other. Here some characteristics that might help with an identification:
Abantennarius dorehensis - the esca on the lure points towards the belly
and is very small.
Abantennarius coccineus - Lacks distinct tail base (dorsal and anal fins
end at base of tail fin)
Abantennarius nummifer - has a large darkly pigmented basidorsal spot. The
lure can have different shapes, but is mostly small and most of the time
round but sometimes with filaments and dark swellings.
Information2.5-5cm |
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Information9-13cm |
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Information10cm |
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Information19cm |
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Abantennarius rosaceus has a long 2nd spine with small bushes.
Information4cm |
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Antennatus tuberosus shows honeycomb patterns on its skin, its color is yellow, redish and pink and it has a striped tail.
Information7cm |
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Information5cm |
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Histiophryne cryptacanthus is characterized by the white blotches all over its body. Some have small close-set ocelli with a white margin all over their body. Some green blotches.
Information9cm |
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Histiophryne maggiewalker is only known from Queensland and has a slightly larger esca than other Histiophryne species.
Information5-6cm |
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Coloration
only known from preserved specimens (creamy, black)
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Lophiocharon trisignatus differs from other frogfishes by the many ocelli (eye spots) on the tail which seem to be nearly transparent.
Information14cm (18cm?) |
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Tathicarpus butleri has a long rod and transparent membranes between the fins.
Information10-12cm |
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This identification key is only for species of the subfamily Antennariinae
(frogfishes, family Antennariidae, suborder Antennarioidei) which are
frogfishes living in tropical and Subtropical waters.
Please take note, that this is a simplified identification key. Ichthyologists
use tables with the number of dorsal, anal and pectoral rays, the length
of the illicium and other distinguishing characteristics for means of
identification.
I identified all frogfishes (anglerfishes) to my best knowledge. Frogfishes are specially difficult to identify (see tips for identification) so mistakes are possible of course! Please write to me, if you have any questions. Latin names according to the newest scientific findings, ITIS Standard Report and Fishbase.
. Copyright Teresa Zubi