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Identification Key Frogfishes

Tropical Indopacific

All frogfish species listed here are living in the Indopacific* and are striped.
For frogfishes with no stripes living in the Indopacific* click here.
For a overwiew of all frogfishes from this area click here.

1. Stripes on the whole body

Striped frogfishes commenly seen

Antennarius hispidus differs from Antennarius striatus in the shape of the Esca (large oval-shaped tuft versus worm-like appendages). Both species differ from Histrio histrio that this frogfish-species has very large pelvic fins which it needs to float in the Sargassum weed.

Antennarius hispidus (Hispid frogfish - Hispid Anglerfisch)

		Information 15-20cm

Antennarius striatus (Striped or hairy frogfish)

		Information 18-22cm

Histrio histrio (Sargassumfish)

		Information 20cm

Common in a particular area

A typical frogfish from the Indian Ocean is Antennarius indicus. It differs from other striped frogfishes that it also has 2 to 3 dark round spots with a white ring around each. Do you have a photo of this species, please write to me.

Antennarius indicus(Indian frogfish - Indischer Anglerfisch)

		Information 19cm

Very uncommon striped frogfishes

The range of these striped frogfish species is limited to a narrow geographic area which don't overlap. They are all very uncommon species - so - if you have a photo for me, please write to me!

Fowlerichthys scriptissimus (Scripted Frogfish)

		Information 28cm

Only found in Ambon (Indonesia)

Histiophryne psychedelica (Ambon Frogfish, Moluccan Frogfish, Psychedelic Frogfish - Ambon Anglerfisch, Molukken Anglerfisch, Psychedelischer Anglerfisch)

		Information 6-9cm

A very uncommon species, has a very long whip-like lure - if you have a photo for me, please write to me!

Antennatus linearis (Pygmy frogfish)

		Information 7.5cm

2. Only a striped tail

These two frogfish species only have stripes on the tail - please continue here.

Abantennarius coccineus (Freckled frogfish)

		Information 9-13cm

Abantennarius dorehensis (New Guinea Frogfish) - Antennatus dorehensis

		Information 2.5-5cm

Antennatus flagellatus (Whip Frogfish) has a very long lure (3.6 times second dorsal spine)

Antennatus flagellatus (Whip Frogfish)

		Information 6cm

Antennatus strigatus is only striped at the tail

Antennatus strigatus (Bandtail frogfish)

		Information 8cm

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

* 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

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.