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Identification Key Frogfishes

Western Atlantic (incl. the Caribbean) - Striped Frogfishes

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

There are only two striped frogfish species living in the western Atlantic. Antennarius scaber (formerly Antennarius striatus) lives on sand and rubble, Histrio histrio in open water or near the coast in floating Sargassum weed. These two frogfish species differ that Histrio histrio has very large pelvic fins which it needs to float in the Sargassum weed. Antennarius scaber has a lure with two elongate, wormlike appendages (bifid).

Antennarius scaber (Spitlure frogfish - Zweispaltiger Anglerfisch)

		Information 15cm	Looks similar to Antennarius striatus

Histrio histrio (Sargassumfish - Sargasso Anglerfisch)

		Information 20cm

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.