Scarlet Frogfish

Antennatus coccineus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Antennariidae
Genus: Antennatus
Species: Antennatus coccineus

The scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) is a small, secretive frogfish that hides in reef crevices, usually red, orange or brown with darker blotches. Despite its name it varies a lot in colour, and its skin is covered in fine spinules.

It grows to about 10-13 cm. It lives in shallow reef areas, wedged into holes and under rocks, where it ambushes small fish and crustaceans using a short lure. Because it stays so well hidden, it is seen far less often than the larger frogfish.

The scarlet frogfish is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where patient divers may find it tucked into reef crevices and rubble.

Photo: Justin Philbois, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist