English Name: Commerson’s frogfish, Giant angler
Family: ANTENNARIIDAE
Local Name: Maa hohmas
Order: Lophiiformes
Size: Max, 38 cm
Specimen: MRS/U 180/88
Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fiti with 3 spines (which are well separated from one another), and 12 - 13 rays. First dorsal spine considerably longer than the second which is curved posteriorly. Anal fin with 8 rays. Pectoral fin 10-1 I rays. Skin joining second dorsal spine to head thick and densely spinulose. Gill opening restricted to a pore. Caudal peduncle distinct.
Colour: Highly variable. Ground colour maybe red, orange, yellow, greenish, brown or black. A yellow one can change to red in three weeks.
Habitat and Biology: Mostly benthic, coastal and surface waters to a depth of lOOm. Lures its prey (usually
fishes) nea novements of its specialized first dorsal spine.
Distribution: Indo-Pac ific and Eastern Pacific.
Remarks: Antennarius commersonu, like other frogfishes (or allolers) is highly camaflouged. It is larger
than most other frogfishes.