Indian frogfish (Antennarius indicus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Antennarius indicus · Authority: Schultz, 1964 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 217841.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217841 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 23 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 13 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: An uncommon species that occurs to a depth of at least 25 m.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 23738) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Antennarius-indicus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Antennarius indicus Schultz, 1964 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 67968687) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67968687/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5214794) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5214794/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Antennarius indicus was first formally described in 1964 by the American ichthyologist Leonard Peter Schultz with its type locality given as Vizagapatam in India. Within the genus Antennarius the Indian frogfish belongs to the striatus species group. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Antennarius in the family Antennariidae within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

Etymology

Antennarius indicus has the genus name Antennarius which suffixes -ius to antenna, an allusion to first dorsal spine being adapted into a tentacle on the snout used as a lure to attract prey. The specific name indicus refers to the type locality in India.

Description

Antennarius indicus has an illicium which is roughly equal in length to the second dorsal spine and which has an esca, or lure, which is made up of leaf like appendages. The dorsal fin has 12 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 soft rays. In life the colour of the body is tawny to brown marked with dark brown to black bars on the fins, which may be interconnected and which form stripes when the fins are folded.

There are 2 or 3 obvious pale-margined ocelli, one below the base of the dorsal fin, one above and to the rear of the base of the pectoral fin and the other close to the base of the anal fin. Preserved specimens may be beige with pale fins and dark mottling. The Indian frogfish has a maximum published total length of 23 cm.

Distribution and habitat

Antennarius indicus is found in the western Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden south to northern Mozambique east tp southeastern India and Sri Lanka, including the Seychelles and Lakshadweep. The Indian frogfish between 0 and 30 m in sandy and muddy habitats close to coral reefs and algal beds.

Source: Wikipedia: Antennarius indicus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antennarius_indicus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.