6 replies to this topic

[Nick Hope]

So I made this video as a puzzle, and now I need to know the answer myself!

 

I'm thinking the front one is Antennarius nummifer. But I know other frogfish have similar spots, so I might be wrong.

 

And the dark on at the back might be Antennarius striatus. Then again, other frogfishes can get pretty hairy too.

 

What do you think? 720p HD helps.

 

Would also be interested in an ID for the frogfish-shaped greeny-brown stuff between them.

 

[MSully]

two fish, but idk which species of frogfish

[JimSwims]

Ok my two guesses-

 

Front one is Antennarius biocellatus

 

and the Rear one is A.hispidus.

 

The stuff between is algae.

 

 

Cheers,

Jim.

[Nick Hope]

Thanks Jim. A. biocellatus seems a possibility, but it apparently lives in brackish and freshwater, and the shape doesn't seem quite right. I'm now wondering if it could be this undescribed ocellated/Lembeh frogfish as shown on http://www.frogfish....ennatus-sp.html

 

On further research, the dark frogfish could be just about anything. A. hispidus seems not so common in Lembeh.

 

Frogfish ID is so difficult.

[Bent C]

I have seen several hispid in Lembeh. However, I would need to see a clear picture of the lure in order to say if it is or not. Do you have any other angles of the dark one?

The front one is just frustrating. On one of my visits they were all over the place and we saw them almost every day. Still not really sure what it is.

[Nick Hope]

Sorry Bent, that's the only shot of the dark one that I have. I didn't see it until I got home and looked at the footage.

[Nick Hope]

I got this reply by email from Gerry Allen:

 

"The frogfish is apparently one of the many forms of Antennarius pictus. Having said that the jury is still out on several of the so called varieties. I'm currently working with Mark Erdmann and some Indonesian genetic students to try and sort this out,but it will likely be another year at least before we have the answers. We are currently focusing on the differences between the "hairy" and "Lembeh" frogfishes. We've taken genetic samples, but are still waiting for the sequence results.

 

Not sure about that species in the back ground. Its camouflage is too good!"

Edited by Nick Hope, 26 March 2013 - 11:50 PM.