Sargassum Fish, also known as Anglerfish or Frog Fish, is a unique fish that belongs to the Antennariidae family.
This species lives in floating Sargassum seaweed found in subtropical oceans.
Its scientific name, Histrio histrio, comes from Latin and means “stage player” or “actor,” referring to its feeding behavior.
Sargassum Fish are usually found near the ocean’s surface, close to shore, or among floating objects like seaweed. Storms can sometimes wash them into bay waters.
They are considered epipelagic, meaning they live near the surface of open water.
Sargassum Fish are solitary creatures and voracious predators. They eat fish and shrimp hiding in the floating weeds.
They are found alone or in small groups among floating seaweed but are not reef-safe for aquariums.
Sargassum Fish Interesting Facts
- Sargassum Fish blend in with floating seaweed due to their unique coloration, helping them hide from predators and catch prey.
- These fish are found across the globe, including locations like Japan, Australia, and West Africa.
- They reproduce by creating egg rafts where baby fish remain until they hatch and swim away.
Sargassum Fish Habitat
Sargassum Fish is found in the Indian Ocean, near South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, the Red Sea, Madagascar, Réunion, and Mauritius.
In the Western Pacific, it lives from Japan’s Hokkaido to Australia (including Perth and Sydney), Taiwan, the Philippines, Moluccas islands, southern Papua New Guinea, Guam, Tonga, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. It also appears in Micronesia’s Mariana Islands.
It hasn’t been confirmed if this fish exists in the eastern Pacific. However, it has been observed in the northwest Atlantic region of Canada and the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to Uruguay’s Rio de la Plata river mouth.
Sargassum Fish is found in the Azores and West Africa in the eastern Atlantic region. A rare sighting occurred in northern Norway due to ocean currents carrying it there.
This marine fish is associated with reefs and travels long distances in open water (oceanodromous).
It usually lives at depths of 0 to 50 meters but is mostly found around 0 to 2 meters deep.
Sargassum Fish is found between latitudes 46°N to 36°S and longitudes 180°W to 180°E in subtropical waters.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Sargassum Fish Physical Characteristics
Size: 7.9 inches (20.0 centimeters)
Sargassum Fish grows up to 7.9 inches (20.0 centimeters) long. It has a round body, a large mouth with tiny teeth, and no scales. Instead, it has skin flaps covering its head, body, and fins.
Its pelvic fins are very long (over 25% of its body length).
This fish has a special lure called an illicium that is shorter than half the length of the second dorsal fin spine.
Sargassum Fish stands out because of its large pelvic fins and unbranched pelvic rays. The illicium is much shorter than the second dorsal spine and looks like a small globe with short filaments.
Most of the pectoral stalk is not attached to the body. The illicium and second dorsal-fin spine are close together.
The second dorsal-fin spine is slightly curved backward and not connected to the head by a membrane. The third dorsal-fin spine also curves backward but is connected to the head by a membrane.
The skin of this fish is relatively smooth without noticeable spines, but there are some scattered cirri (hair-like structures) on its head, body, fins, and dorsal spines.
The color of this fish varies from grey to patterns of stripes and spots ranging from brown to yellow.
Sometimes it has many small black dots or fine white lines on its body. Its pectoral and pelvic fins may have orange edges while its skin filaments are white.
Interestingly, this fish’s coloration helps it blend in with floating Sargassum seaweed where it usually lives.
Sargassum Fish Reproduction
Sargassum Fish lays eggs to reproduce. When it’s time to mate, the male chases the female and they both quickly swim to the water’s surface to release eggs.
The female creates a floating, jelly-like mass called a “raft” where she lays her eggs. The male then fertilizes these eggs in the raft.
The baby fish stay inside this raft until they hatch and swim away.
Sargassum Fish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Antennariidae |
| Genus: | Histrio |
| Scientific Name: | Histrio histrio |
| Also Known As: | Sargassum Fish, Anglerfish, Frog Fish |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |