Side-jet frogfish

Lore & Background

The side-jet frogfish was first formally described as Antennarius duescus by American ichthyologist John Otterbein Snyder, with its type locality given as between Maui and Lanai in the Hawaiian Islands. In 1957 Leonard Peter Schultz proposed the genus Abantennarius and designated A. duescus as its type species. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Abantennarius in the family Antennariidae within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

The genus name Abantennarius prefixes ab, meaning 'away from', onto antennarius, a fish of the family Antennariidae. This alludes to the gill opening being positioned away from the base of the pectoral fin, which is typically where it is located in frogfishes. The specific name duescus means 'two baits', a reference Snyder did not explain; it is thought to refer to the possession of two escae—the typical one which is the first dorsal-fin spine, then a thinner second dorsal spine with a club-like structure on its tip which resembles an esca.

The species has been recorded from widely scattered locations in the western Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii (including Midway and Johnston Atoll); Kakaban, Flores and Komodo islands in Indonesia; Madang and Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea; Ouvéa Island in New Caledonia; and Fiji. It is found at depths between 10 and 137 m, with a mean depth of 23 m, on rocky and coral reefs.

Reader's Guide

The side-jet frogfish is notable for its distinctive gill opening placement, which is away from the base of the pectoral fin—a feature that sets it apart from typical frogfishes and is reflected in its genus name. Its specific name, meaning 'two baits,' hints at an unusual characteristic: the presence of two escae, with the second dorsal spine bearing a club-like structure that resembles an esca. This trait, though not fully explained by the original describer, suggests a unique adaptation in its angling apparatus. The species' scattered distribution across the western Pacific, from Hawaii to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Fiji, indicates a wide but patchy range. Its occurrence at depths from 10 to 137 m on rocky and coral reefs underscores its benthic habitat preferences. As the type species of the genus Abantennarius, it holds taxonomic significance, having been designated by Schultz in 1957. The classification within the order Lophiiformes places it among the anglerfishes, linking it to a group known for their luring strategies.

Did You Know?

• The side-jet frogfish was first described by American ichthyologist John Otterbein Snyder.
• Its type locality is between Maui and Lanai in the Hawaiian Islands.
• The specific name duescus means 'two baits,' possibly referring to two escae.
• It has been recorded from widely scattered locations including Hawaii, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Fiji.