About Antennarius pictus (Shaw, 1794)
The painted frogfish, Antennarius pictus, has a maximum published total length of 30 cm (12 in). Like other members of its family, it has a globulous, extensible body, and its soft skin is covered in small dermal spinules. The skin is partially covered with a small number of small, wart-like protuberances, some variably shaped, scab-like blotches, and many small eye spots (ocelli) that resemble sponge holes. Its large prognathous mouth lets it consume prey that is the same size as itself. The body coloration of this species is extremely variable, as individuals always tend to match their surrounding living environments. Frogfishes can change their coloration and pigment pattern within a few weeks. The dominant coloration ranges from white to black, spanning a full range of related shades including cream, pink, yellow, red, and brown, usually with circular eye spots darker than the background color and/or saddles and blotches. Some specimens can be easily confused with Antennarius maculatus. The following characteristics help separate these two closely related species: A. maculatus usually has red or orange margins on all fins, sometimes a spike of the saddle blotch starts posterior to the eye, it has numerous warts on the skin, and few or no ocelli; A. pictus also has three eye spots on its caudal fin. Juvenile painted frogfish may have a dark background color with small yellow spots. The first dorsal spine, called the illicium, is modified for use as a fishing rod. Its tip has a characteristic esca (lure), which resembles a small fish and ranges from pinkish to brownish in color. The illicium is twice the length of the second dorsal spine and is often darkly banded. The second dorsal spine is practically straight and mobile, and the third dorsal spine is bent toward the back of the body; both are attached to the head via membrane. They are well separated from each other and from the dorsal fin. The pectoral fins of frogfishes are angled, and work together with the pelvic fins to help the frogfish move along the seabed and hold a stable position for ambush. The painted frogfish has a wide distribution across tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends along the eastern African coast from the Gulf of Aqaba south to Aliwal Shoal off South Africa, east to Hawaii and the Society Islands, north to Jeju Island in Korea and the Ryukyu Islands, and south to Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia and Lord Howe Island. It inhabits sheltered rocky and coral reefs. Adults are usually associated with sponges, found at depths down to 75 m (246 ft), with an average occurrence depth of 15 m (49 ft).
