Antennariidae family

Frogfish

2-38 cm
5-10 år
Livskraftig (de fleste arter)
Om

Frogfish

Frogfish are among the ocean's most bizarre and fascinating creatures—stocky, lumpy fish that have evolved to look like sponges, algae, or rocks. They use a modified dorsal spine as a fishing rod (called an illicium) to lure prey within striking distance, then swallow it whole in one of the fastest feeding strikes in the animal kingdom (as fast as 6 milliseconds).

Størrelse

2-38 cm (artavhengig)

Vekt

Opptil 1 kg

Levetid

5-10 år

Status

Livskraftig (de fleste arter)

Hvor du finner dem

Beste dykkelokasjoner

Lembeh Strait, IndonesiaAnilao, FilippineneMaldiveneRødehavet, EgyptBonaireKomodo, IndonesiaRaja Ampat, IndonesiaKaribien

Dykketips

Frogfish are extremely well camouflaged and nearly impossible to spot without an experienced muck-diving guide. Once located, approach slowly—they rarely move. Their camouflage is so effective that you can stare directly at one and not see it. Look for their eyes or mouth as identifying features.

Beste sesong

Year-round at tropical dive sites

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical reefs, muck-diving sites, sponge gardens, and coral rubble worldwide

Kosthold

Fish, shrimp, and crustaceans (ambush predator—can eat prey as large as itself)
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Morsomme fakta

1

Their strike is one of the fastest in the animal kingdom—swallowing prey in just 6 milliseconds

2

They can swallow fish nearly as large as themselves by expanding their mouth 12 times its resting size

3

Frogfish can 'walk' on their pectoral fins across the seafloor

4

They are so well camouflaged that researchers often find them only by accident

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