ANTENNARIIDAE


Antennarius commerson
(photo by Mark Strickland)


Antennarius commerson
(Latreille, 1804)
Commerson's Frogfish

D I + I + I, 12-13; A 8; P1 10-11; P2 I, 5; C 9.

Body globose, compressed. Gill opening below pectoral-fin base. First dorsal-fin spine with a fleshy tentacle; base of the spine behind upper jaw symphysis; second spine with a thick membrane posteriorly; illicium long, twice as long as second dorsalfin spine. Posterior end of dorsal fin not broadly connected by membrane to caudal peduncle. Pectoral-fin rays unbranched. Color: body yellow, red, olive, brown, gray, black, or white, and variously mottled. Two or more dark spots often present at caudal fin; a spot often present at dorsal and anal-fin bases. Size: maximum length 38 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, from east coast of Africa east to the Hawaiian and Society Islands, and southern Japan south to New South Wales, Australia. Remarks: usually found on reefs at depths of less than 20 m; rarely from at least 70 m.