Dwarf frogfish (Antennarius pauciradiatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Antennarius pauciradiatus · Authority: Schultz, 1957 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 272541.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=272541 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 6.300000190734863 cm · Depth range: 6–73 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: subsistence fisheries.

FishBase notes: Occurs mainly near patches of reef and rock. Relatively uncommon (Ref. 9710). Smallest frogfish in the western Atlantic (Ref. 26938).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 3086) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Antennarius-pauciradiatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

133 georeferenced occurrence records for Antennarius pauciradiatus are published through GBIF from 17 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 38 distinct locations from a sample of 133 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (27); Mexico (25); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (24); Belize (19); Cayman Islands (12); Bahamas (7); Colombia (6); United States Minor Outlying Islands (3); Guadeloupe (2); Barbados (1); Honduras (1); Haiti (1); Kenya (1); Comoros (1); Panama (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Gulf of Mexico.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5214741) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5214741&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=272541 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Antennarius pauciradiatus 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 16406968) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16406968/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5214741) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5214741/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Antennarius pauciradiatus was first formally described in 1957 by the American ichthyologist Leonard Peter Schultz with its type locality given as Palm Beach, Florida. Within the genus Antennarius the dwarf frogfish belongs to the pauciradiatus species group, along with Randall's frogfish (A. randalli). 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 pauciradiatus 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 pauciradiatus combines pauci-, meaning few, and radiates, which means rayed, an allusion to the fewer rays in the pectoral fin in comparison to the Fowlerichthys species that were assumed to be its congeners when it was described.

Description

Antennarius pauciradiatus has a globose, slightly compressed body. The large mouth points upwards and has many small, sharp teeth. The small round opening to the gills is located under and to the rear of the pectoral fin. There are 3 dorsal spines, the first is the "fishing rod", or illicium, which is markedly shorter than the second and is tipped by the lure, or esca, an oval shape with many filaments that resemble tentacles.

The second spine is connected to the head and part of the third spine by a membrane. This membrane includes a pocket into which the esca can be folded. The long, curved third spine is moveable and is not connected to the head by a membrane. The pectoral fins are limb-like and having a joint that resembles an elbow, the lobe of the fin is widely connected to the body.

There is a dense covering of bifurcated spinules on the body. The overall colour is tan and there are two small brown spots on the dorsal fin. The dwarf frogfish has a maximum published total length of 6.3 cm.

Distribution and habitat

Antennarius pauciradiatus is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean where it is distributed from Bermuda, Florida and the Bahamas south through the Caribbean Sea to Colombia. It is found at depths between 6 and 73 m on reefs and rock substrates. It may have been extirpated from Bermuda due to habitat loss.

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