Commerson’s Frogfish – The Colorful and Solitary Underwater Fisherman of Cocos Island

Photo courtesy from Reef Ogre

Commerson’s Frogfish (Antennarius commersoni)

Max. Length: 45 centimeters
Length at 1st Maturity: 26.5 centimeters
a value: 0.01995
b value: 3.01
Depth Range: 0 – 70 meters (0 – 210 feet)
Frequency: Abundant but threatened due live aquarium fish trade

Photo courtesy from Wikipedia

If you try to search the net, you may be confused why a Commerson’s Frogfish has so many individual colors. Yes, this particular species comes in a variety of color: from yellow, orange, green, brown, and black. This extreme color variation is due to the camouflage characteristics of a commerson’s frogfish where they tend to match the color of their surrounding environment.

Regardless of body color, you can still easily identify a Commerson’s Frogfish through its globular and extensible body that is being covered with a soft leathery skin which are further covered with small wart-like protrusions with small eye spots that looks like a sponge in general.

Why are they called Frogfish?

If you think that their name is derived from frogs, then you are right. But if we take their appearance into consideration, then i think there is little resemblance between a frog and a frogfish. The reason behind why they are named after frogs has something to do with locomotion and appetite.

Photo courtesy from One World One Ocean

Let us first clarify that frogfish don’t leap as frogs do. But, aside from swimming, frogfish has the ability to walk which is similar to frogs. This is due to their highly developed pelvic fins that are angled which enables the frogfish to literally walk on the reef. This ability further adds their stability where you can see a frogfish sitting upright while motionless giving them the perfect position for an easy meal through an ambush.

Speaking of appetite, frogfish are voracious carnivores where they are known to eat small fish. Their mouth are large and can be opened wide where they can consume large prey including one of their own. Yes, you read it right, they are cannibals. This is very evident during mating season where a male can kill and eat a female. But despite this unique mating characteristic, a male Commerson’s Frogfish is still highly prolific where studies shows that it can double its population in less than 15 months.

The Solitary Fisherman

Photo courtesy from ocean-vida.com

Although they can be seen in groups during mating season, but on a regular day, a Commerson’s Frogfish is often seen sitting down alone in one corner of the reef. You may consider loneliness as part of their characteristic, but actually they are working to survive. In short, the reason why they are alone and motionless is that they are fishing for nearby smaller fish. Please do not imagine them hunting using the frog’s sticky tongue technique. Instead, they use a lure courtesy from the flattened appendage of their head which will serve as bait.

Fishing far away from your competitors is not just exhibited by Frogfish alone. Humans does too. If you try to ask a fishermen on what’s the best spot for fishing, often they will reply: any spot as long as you have no competitor. In short, the whole pizza pie is yours.

Reference

Fishbase: www.fishbase.org

Encyclopedia of Life: www.eol.org

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org

Video courtesy from Bruce Carlson

About Tristan Paylado
Tristan is a marine biologist and a CMAS 2-Star Dive Instructor
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