Fowlerichthys radiosus

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
AntennariidaeFowlerichthys radiosus(Garman 1896)1801Singlespot Frogfish

Fowlerichthys radiosus

Unique Characters: Single, dark medium-sized ocellus under base of second dorsal fin. Body may have reticulating pattern. Fins may be barred. Lure about as long as second dorsal-fin spines; tip small, simple. Skin of body rough, everywhere covered with extremely close-set spinules. Pectoral-fin lobe broadly connected to body. Pelvic fins short, considerably less than 25% standard length. Benthic in coral or rocky reefs, or on muddy or sandy bottoms. Color variable. Beige, pale brown to grayish brown. Single, dark ocellus under base of second dorsal fin. Body may have reticulating pattern. Fins may be barred. Lure about as long as second dorsal-fin spines; a fleshy bulb with dark buds and filaments.

Similar Species:

Sargassumfish Histrio histrio

Oscellated Frogfish Fowlerichthys ocellatus

Striated Frogfish Antennarius striatus

Histrio histrio
Sargassumfish – Histrio histrio
Antennarius striatus
Striated Frogfish – Antennarius striatus Photo Credit: G.H. Burgess

Sargassumfish Histrio histrio. Skin of body smooth, appearing naked (dermal spinules, if present, difficult to detect without microscopic aid). Pectoral-fin lobe free from body. Pelvic fins long, greater than 25% standard length. Pelagic in floating sargassum weed.

Oscellated Frogfish Fowlerichthys ocellatus. Skin of body rough, everywhere covered with extremely close-set spinules. Pectoral-fin lobe broadly connected to body. Pelvic fins short, considerably less than 25% standard length. Benthic in coral or rocky reefs, or on muddy or sandy bottoms. Brownish, yellowish, grayish, to reddish with variable darker and paler blotching. Small spots and smudges pepper head and body. Always with large, dark ocelli at dorsal-fin base, on caudal fin, and on midbody. Lure short, densely clustered at tip.

Striated Frogfish Antennarius striatus. Skin of body rough, everywhere covered with extremely close-set spinules. Pectoral-fin lobe broadly connected to body. Pelvic fins short, considerably less than 25% standard length. Benthic in coral or rocky reefs, or on muddy or sandy bottoms. Shades of brown, yellow, beige. May be uniformly colored to  densely banded and spotted. Some are black with pale mottling. Body and fins may have few to numerous fleshy filaments. Lure short; tip fleshy, branched, worm-like.

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