4 replies to this topic

[liquidguru]

We've been having trouble deciding whether this is a Hispid or Striated Frogfish. It's lure seems to suggest not a Striated, but it does hang around a black sand site and often there is a Hairy Striated nearby. Does anyone have ideas?

[vimeohd]56502823[/vimeohd]

Thanks and Happy New Year to all!

Kaj

[scubamarli]

Stunning footage, as usual, Kaj. It's definitely not a Hispid. The lure on a hispid is fluffy and round..like a pom pom. The lure on yours is...different than a A. striatus, which is split into two halves, Everything else looks the same though. HMMMM. One other thought..is this a juvie? How big? Maybe the lure would turn into a pom pom. As usual, clear as mud.

Love Lembeh. Always full of cool surprises.

Cheers,
Marli

Edited by scubamarli, 30 December 2012 - 08:09 PM.

[liquidguru]

Thanks for the reply Marli,

It wasn't a juvenile. It was about 15-20cm long, which is why this is proving a little difficult to ID. I really don't think the lure looks like a Striated worm lure, even if something, maybe, and eaten it.

Maybe a Lembeh Striated/Hispid cross..... a Histriated?

Cheers,

Kaj

[liquidguru]

Just spoke to my oldest guide, Liberty, and he told me that he saw this frogfish a few months ago with it's lure bitten off half way down the shaft. So could this be the re-growing lure? This would make it a Striated.

Edited by liquidguru, 31 December 2012 - 12:28 AM.

[Scuba_Pro]

I have seen the same frogfish in Lembeh, photographed it about 3 weeks ago.

I personally think it is a new species/sub-species of frogfish. There is another one slightly different colour on TK1 but both have the same illicium & esca.