Antennarius multiocellatus

Common Name

Longlure Frogfish

Year Described

Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837

Identification

Dorsal Fin: III, 12
Anal Fin: 7
Pelvic Fin: 5
Pectoral Fin: 10-13
Caudal Fin: 9 bifurcate rays
Vertebrae: 19

Body globose and rough with a large terminal mouth that is strongly oblique. Distal two-thirds of maxilla tucked under folds of skin; front tip spinose. Illicium well developed and naked (21-32% SL). Illicium about twice length of second dorsal spine. Esca a flattened flap and a clump of filaments arising from a central bulb (about half length of illicium). Second dorsal spine membrane without naked/spiny portions; ending well short of third spine. Pectoral fin lobe attached. Pelvic fin with last one branched and 4 unbranched rays. Caudal peduncle present (rear dorsal rays not attached to caudal fin by membrane). Pseudobranch present. Dermal spinules bifurcate. Body with wart-like patches of spinules.

Color

Body extremely variable in color: red, orange, yellow, white, gray, brown, bluish, or black. Ranges from plain to heavily mottled with darker shades of body color or a contrasting color. There are several consistent ocelli: one under the soft dorsal, one on the anal fin, one under the third dorsal spine, and two-three smaller ones on the tail. A saddle mark on peduncle. There are frequently many other black ocelli and/or spots scattered over the body.

Size

A medium sized species: reaches 143mm SL.

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs from 0-66m.

Range

Found from New York (vagrants) to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Also Bermuda.

References

Pietsch, T.W. & Arnold, R.J. 2020. Frogfishes: Biodiversity, Zoogeography, and Behavioral Ecology. JHU Press.