Frogfish and Dragonets Codexery

Psychedelic frogfish

A frogfish with a fingerprint-like pattern and a bouncing-ball locomotion.

Last updated

Psychedelic frogfish

David Hall / seaphotos.com · via Wikipedia: Psychedelic frogfish · CC BY-SA 3.0

It was first described in 2009 by Pietsch, Arnold, and Hall in the scientific journal Copeia.[1] The common name "psychedelic frogfish" for Histiophryne psychedelica comes from its pink and white stripes that form a pattern similar to a fingerprint, with a body color that is yellow-brown or peach.[1] The International Institute for Species Exploration included this species in its top 10 new species list for 2009.[2][3]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassActinopterygii
  4. DivisionTeleostei
  5. OrderLophiiformes
  6. FamilyAntennariidae
  7. GenusHistiophryne
  8. SpeciesHistiophryne psychedelica

Named by Pietsch, R. J. Arnold & D. J. Hall, 2009

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Psychedelic frogfish (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at family: WoRMS AphiaID 398420 (CC BY 4.0)

Where the psychedelic frogfish has been recorded

Where the psychedelic frogfish has been recordedPlaces named in the text; marked places: Ambon IslandAmbon Island

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick Facts

Scientific name
Histiophryne psychedelica
First described
  • 2009 by Pietsch
  • Arnold
  • and Hall in the journal Copeia
Egg cluster size
about 220 eggs
Type locality
  • Laha I dive site
  • Ambon Island
  • Indonesia

Facts from the source article.

Biology and range

The psychedelic frogfish moves by walking on its pectoral fins over the seafloor.[1] It has been observed using its fins to push off from the sea floor while shooting water through its gills to propel itself forward via jet propulsion.[1] Coral rubble environments provide this fish with potential camouflage from predators.[1] All documented specimens have been collected at depths between 5 and 7 meters, roughly 20 meters from the shore.[1]

Unlike many other anglerfishes, the psychedelic frogfish possesses a very small lure on its forehead.[4] Maximum recorded length for this frogfish is 15 cm.[1] Shrimp and small fish are thought to make up the diet of this species.[5]

What the specialist sources record

The psychedelic frogfish is only found in certain specific locations of Indonesia, in the vicinity of Ambon and the Molucca islands, which is a very restricted area.[6] The psychedelic frogfish is very seasonal, and are not found all year long.[6] This variety of frogfish is special for only having a microscopic lure or ‘illicium’.[6] Psychedelic frogfish are “egg-brooders”, meaning they keep their eggs attached to their body to protect them from predators.[6]

One female psychedelic frogfish lays a cluster of about 220 eggs.[6]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Psychedelic frogfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Pietsch, T., Arnold, R., and Hall, D., "A bizarre new species of frogfish of the genus Histiophryne (Lophiiformes: Antennariidae) from Ambon and Bali, Indonesia", Copeia, 2009, p. 37–45 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. "'Dracula' fish and bombardier worm make top 10 list", LiveScience, 2010. facts only, no text reused. livescience.com
  3. Wikipedia, "Psychedelic frogfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Possible new species of frogfish discovered by Maluku divers", Maluku Divers, 2008; "'Dracula' fish and bombardier worm make top 10 list", LiveScience, 2010 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Psychedelic frogfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Chalias, "These Cute Monster Eggs are from the Psychedelic Frogfish", reefbuilders.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Psychedelic frogfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "New species of fish discovered that would rather crawl than swim", Environmental News Network, April 3, 2008 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Chalias, "These Cute Monster Eggs are from the Psychedelic Frogfish", reefbuilders.com. facts only, no text reused. reefbuilders.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Psychedelic frogfish (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

Histiophryne

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Test yourself

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

1. To which genus does the psychedelic frogfish belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Histiophryne.

2. To which biological order does the psychedelic frogfish belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Lophiiformes.

3. In what year was the psychedelic frogfish first scientifically described?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 2009.

More questions on TriviaCafe

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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