Frogfish and Dragonets Codexery

Fowlerichthys avalonis

The most widespread frogfish in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Last updated

Fowlerichthys avalonis

Alberto Alcalá · via Wikipedia: Fowlerichthys avalonis · CC BY 4.0

Fowlerichthys avalonis is a marine fish in the family Antennariidae, order Lophiiformes.[1] This species is known in Mexico as ranisapo antenado.[2] The greatest recorded total length for this species is 33 cm.[3]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassActinopterygii
  4. DivisionTeleostei
  5. OrderLophiiformes
  6. FamilyAntennariidae
  7. GenusFowlerichthys
  8. SpeciesFowlerichthys avalonis

Named by (D. S. Jordan & Starks, 1907)

Close relatives

Other species of Fowlerichthys with a Codexery entry.

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Fowlerichthys avalonis (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 712506 (CC BY 4.0)

Conservation status

Least Concern (LC)

  1. LC▲ this species
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX
Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2010

Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category

How big is it?

Size comparison: Fowlerichthys avalonis and a personA 0.33 m long fowlerichthys avalonis drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.33 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.33 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Fowlerichthys avalonis

Where the fowlerichthys avalonis has been recorded

Where the fowlerichthys avalonis has been recorded81 mapped locations from 238 GBIF occurrence records

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (238 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 26 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 1 isolated far-off record not drawn.

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)

Biology and range

Color varies among yellow, orange, red, brown, or black with pronounced light and dark mottling.[4][5] Large black ocelli with thin orange margins occur on the rear base of the dorsal fin.[4][2] This fish possesses a round, side-to-side flattened body, a large mouth that points upward, and numerous small, bristle-like teeth.[6] The fishing rod (illicium) and the second dorsal spine are about the same length, and the lure (esca) is an oval cluster of short, upright projections that measures roughly 40% of the rod's length.[6][2]

A thick layer of forked spicules covers the skin.[4] This frogfish hunts by remaining still and camouflaged, waiting to ambush small fish that come near.[7] Younger individuals feed mostly on crustaceans, while adult fish primarily eat other fish.[7]

What the specialist sources record

The Mexican Fish account notes that globally there are five species in the genus Fowlerichthys, with three found in Mexican waters.[2] The same source states that the Roughjaw Frogfish can be confused with Antennatus strigatus and Antennatus sanguineus.[2] The Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific account describes the color as always having pronounced light and dark mottling.[5] GBIF holds 278 occurrence records for this taxon as of 7 October 2026.[8]

The WoRMS record confirms the species is accepted in the family Antennariidae, order Lophiiformes, class Teleostei.[1]

References

  1. World Register of Marine Species, Fowlerichthys avalonis (AphiaID 712506). CC BY 4.0. marinespecies.org
  2. "Roughjaw Frogfish, Fowlerichthys avalonis", Mexican Fish. facts only, no text reused. mexican-fish.com
  3. Wikipedia, "Fowlerichthys avalonis" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Fowlerichthys avalonis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Species: Fowlerichthys avalonis, Roughbar frogfish, Roughjaw frogfish", Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system; "Roughjaw Frogfish, Fowlerichthys avalonis", Mexican Fish (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. "Species: Fowlerichthys avalonis, Roughbar frogfish, Roughjaw frogfish", Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system. facts only, no text reused. biogeodb.stri.si.edu
  6. Wikipedia, "Fowlerichthys avalonis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Roughjaw Frogfish, Fowlerichthys avalonis", Mexican Fish (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Fowlerichthys avalonis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Roughjaw Frogfish, Fowlerichthys avalonis", Mexican Fish; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Fowlerichthys avalonis (taxon key 7193723). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Fowlerichthys avalonis (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Same family (Antennariidae)

Abantennarius nummifer Abantennarius nummifer

Named in this entry

Actinopterygii

More in Frogfish

FrogfishAbantennariusAntennariusFowlerichthysSargassum fishNudiantennariusRhycherinaeAbantennarius analisAbantennarius bermudensisAbantennarius coccineusAbantennarius dorehensisAbantennarius drombus

Elsewhere in Frogfish and Dragonets

Callionymidae · DragonetsSynchiropus · DragonetsCallionymus belcheri · DragonetsCommon dragonet · DragonetsSpotted dragonet · DragonetsOcellated dragonet · Dragonets

Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year was Fowlerichthys avalonis first scientifically described?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1907.

2. Who first scientifically described the Fowlerichthys avalonis?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is David Starr Jordan.

3. To which biological order does the Fowlerichthys avalonis belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Lophiiformes.

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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