Randall's frogfish
Antennarius randalli
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Lophiiformes
- Family
- Antennariidae
- Genus
- Antennarius
- Species
- Antennarius randalli
Randall's frogfish (Antennarius randalli) is a tiny frogfish, usually under 5 cm, often black or deep red with a few white spots and white-tipped fins. Yellow and orange individuals also occur. It is named after the ichthyologist John E. Randall.
It lives hidden in crevices and holes on rocky and coral reefs, often at depths of 10-30 m, and hunts like other frogfish with a small lure above its mouth. Its small size and secretive habits make it a prized subject for macro photographers.
Randall's frogfish is found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is an occasional but memorable find on rocky reef areas and artificial structures.
Photo: Matthew Collette, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist