Warty Frogfish, also known as the Clown Frogfish, is a type of marine fish that belongs to the Antennariidae family. It lives in sheltered rocky reefs and often hides among rocks.
Adult Warty Frogfish are usually found with sponges, while young ones are seen in open areas on reefs, looking like nudibranchs (sea slugs).
Warty Frogfish tend to be solitary creatures and are found among algae, sponges, and soft corals.
These fish feed on other fish in their natural environment. Also, they are not reef-safe due to their predatory nature.
Warty Frogfish Interesting Facts
- Warty Frogfish grow up to 5.9 inches (15.0 centimeters) long and have wart-like bumps on their skin.
- They use a special appendage called an esca to lure prey, resembling a tiny fish.
- These fish have a wide range of colors, including cream, yellow, brown, and black with various spots and blotches.
Warty Frogfish Habitat
Warty Frogfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Its habitat stretches from the Maldives and Mauritius to Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and even New Caledonia.
This fish lives in marine environments near coral reefs at depths of 1 to 15 meters (3 to 49 feet) and is found in tropical waters between 30°N to 24°S latitudes.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Warty Frogfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 5.9 inches (15.0 centimeters)
Warty Frogfish grows up to 5.9 inches (15.0 centimeters) long. It has 3 dorsal spines, 11 to 12 dorsal soft rays, no anal spines, and 6 to 7 anal soft rays.
One distinctive feature is the numerous wart-like bumps on its skin. This fish has a special appendage called an esca, which looks like a tiny fish and helps it lure prey.
The bony part of the illicium (another appendage) has many crossbands and is about twice as long as the second dorsal spine.
Warty Frogfish have various colors like cream, yellow, brown, or black with dark spots and blotches in different shades such as white to pink or rust-red. Their fins usually have red or orange edges.
One way to tell them apart from similar species like A. pictus is by looking at their first body band’s direction towards the eye’s back edge.
They also have some unique features such as unbranched pelvic rays (except for the last one), an esca with an eye spot resembling a small fish, curved second and third dorsal spines with membranes, and overall wart-like bumps on their bodies.
Warty Frogfish Reproduction
Warty Frogfish lays eggs, which is known as being oviparous.
Their eggs are covered in a ribbon-like sheath or a gelatinous mass called an “egg raft” or “veil.”
Warty Frogfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Antennariidae |
| Genus: | Antennarius |
| Scientific Name: | Antennarius maculatus |
| Also Known As: | Warty Frogfish, Clown Frogfish |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |