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Identification Key Frogfishes

Tropical Indopacific

All frogfish species listed here are living in the Indopacific* and are not striped.
For striped frogfishes living in the Indopacific* click here.
For a overwiew of all frogfishes from this area click here.

* On this page are only frogfishes that live in the Indopacific, but not in one of the following geographic areas: Indian Ocean / subtropical Australia / Hawaii / Japan and Taiwan / Eastern Pacific

Size and frequency

These frogfishes are common in the Indopacific* and have a long luring apparatus:

The 3 frogfish species listed below belong to the so called pictus group. They look quite similar and are often confused with each other. Means of identification for frogfishes of the Antennarius pictus group.

Antennarius commerson (Giant frogfish)

		Information 30cm

Antennarius maculatus (Warty or Clown frogfish)

		Information 8-10cm
Juvenile - Jungtier:

Antennarius pictus (Painted frogfish)

		Information 10-16cm

These frogfishes are common in the Indopacific* and are smaller than 10cm:

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.

Abantennarius dorehensis (New Guinea Frogfish)

		Information 2.5-5cm

Abantennarius coccineus (Freckled frogfish)

		Information 9-13cm

Abantennarius nummifer (Spotfin frogfish)

		Information 10cm

These frogfishes are uncommon Indopacific*:

This frogfish can be identified by the typical large eye spot on the side. Found in brackish and fresh water.

Antennarius biocellatus (Twinspot or brackishwater frogfish)

		Information 12-14cm

Antennarius randalli is a tiny frogfish and is identified by the round white spots which are positioned on the body and on the tail.

Antennarius randalli (Randall's frogfish)

		Information 1.5-2cm

Abantennarius rosaceus has a long 2nd spine with small bushes.

Abantennarius rosaceus (Rosy frogfish)

		Information 4cm

Antennatus tuberosus shows honeycomb patterns on its skin, its color is yellow, redish and pink and it has a striped tail.

Antennatus tuberosus (Bandfin frogfish)

		Information 7cm

Histiophryne cryptacanthus is characterized by the white blotches all over their body. Some have small close-set ocelli with a white margin all over their body. Some green blotches.

Histiophryne cryptacanthus (Cryptic Frogfish)

		Information 9cm

The following 3 species of the genus Histiophryne are not yet described by scientists

Histiophryne sp.1 (Honeycomb Frogfish - Wabenmuster Anglerfisch)

		Information 4-6cm?

Histiophryne pogonius - Bearded Frogfish - Bärtiger Anglerfisch

		Information 5-6cm

Histiophryne sp.2 (Bearded Taiwan Frogfish - Bärtiger Taiwan Anglerfisch)

		Information 4-6cm?

Lophiocharon lithinostomus and Lophiocharon trisignatus differ from other frogfishes by the many ocelli (eye spots) on the tail which seem to be nearly transparent. The two species differ in shape of the lure and esca (Lophiocharon lithinostomus has a long lure with nearly no visible bait, Lophiocharon trisignatus has a large, distinct esca)

Lophiocharon lithinostomus (Marble-Mouthed Frogfish)

		Information 9cm

Lophiocharon trisignatus (Three-Spot Frogfish)

		Information 14cm (18cm?)

Nudiantennarius subteres has one or more ocelli and a long, thin second dorsal spine. The skin appears to be naked (redused spinules) This frogfish was long thougt to be a new undescribed frogfish species (Anntenatus sp.).

Nudiantennarius subteres (Lembeh Frogfish - Lembeh Anglerfisch)

		Information 5-6cm

The following frogfish species are virtually never found by divers

Antennatus analis (Tail-Jet Frogfish)

		Information 3-7cm

Tathicarpus butleri has a long rod and transparent membranes between the fins.

Tathicarpus butleri (Butler's Frogfish)

		Information 10-12cm

Only known to scientists

Antennatus flagellatus (Whip Frogfish) has a very long lure (3.6 times second dorsal spine) - do you have a photo - pelase write to me.

Antennatus flagellatus (Whip Frogfish)

		Information 6cm

Histiophryne maggiewalker (Maggiewalker Frogfish)

		Information 5-6cm
Coloration only known from preserved specimens (creamy, black)

Lophiocharon hutchinsi (Hutchins' Anglerfish)

		Information 5cm

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.