Tailjet frogfish (Abantennarius analis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Lophiiformes · Family: Antennariidae · Genus: Abantennarius.

Accepted name: Abantennarius analis · Authority: Schultz, 1957 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 315963.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Antennarius analis (Schultz, 1957); Antennatus analis (Schultz, 1957).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=315963 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Abantennarius analis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 7.800000190734863 cm · Depth range: 2–21 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Has been collected from tide pools and to outer reef slopes (Ref. 1602). Benthic species (Ref. 58302, 75154).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 11144) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Abantennarius-analis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Abantennarius analis Schultz, 1957 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 155277) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/155277/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2414603) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2414603/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Abentennarius snalis was first formally described in 1957 by the American ichthyologist Leonard Peter Schultz with its type locality given as Waikiki Reef off Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. 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.

Etymology

Abantennarius analis has the genus name Abantennarius which prefixes ab, meaning "away from", onto antennarius, a fish of the family Antennaridae. This is an allusion 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 analis means "anal", an allusion to the gill opening being positioned near the base of the anal fin.

Description

Abantennarius analis has 3 dorsal spines and a second dorsal fin which is supported by 12, rarely 13, soft rays while the anal fin typically contains 6 or, typically, 7 soft rays. The illicium is double the length of the second dorsal spine with an elongated esca which has a number of filamentous appendages and darl swellings at its base. The openings to the gills are located quite far back next to the base of the anal fin.

It does not have a caudal peduncle. The rear parts of the dorsal and anal fin are connected to the caudal fin by a membrane. The pectoral fins are prehensile and have a joint which resembles an elbow.

The skin has a dense covering of forked spines. The overall colour is mottled light grey with a yellowish hue on the fins. The tailjet frogfish has a maximum published standard length of 7.8 cm.

Distribution and habitat

Abantennarius analis is found in the eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. It ranges from Cartier Island, Christmas Island and Rowley Shoals north as far as the Ryukyu Islands and east to the Society Islands and Hawaii. The tailjet frogfish is associated with reefs at depths between 2 and 21 m, where they shelter in tidal pools, among rubble and in crevices.

Biology

Abantennarius analis is a gonochoristic species which has external fertilisation. The females lay the 1mm diameter eggs in a pelagic raft, this contains thousands of eggs within a gelatinous mass that floats. They are ambush predators, using the first dorsal spine to lure prey within striking range of the mouth. They can vary their colour and pattern to camouflage themselves with the environment.

Source: Wikipedia: Abantennarius analis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abantennarius_analis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.