ANTENNARIIDAE


Antennarius pictus, 10.0 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Antennarius pictus
(Shaw, 1794)
Painted Frogfish

D I + I + I, 11-13; A 6-7; 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; second spine tip curved 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 white, red, yellow, gray, brown, or black; usually with numerous spots scattered on softrayed portion of dorsal fin, and anal and caudal fins. Size: maximum length 21 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 Australia. Remarks: usually found on reefs in shallow waters to depths of 75 m.