Bandtail frogfish (Antennatus strigatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Antennatus strigatus · Authority: (Gill, 1863) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 279164.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Antennarius reticularis Gilbert, 1892; Antennarius strigatus Gill, 1863.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279164 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 8 cm · Depth range: 0–38 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Found in small recesses on rocky reefs and especially along walls. They blend almost perfectly with the background, they often take the markings of tube-worm snails or appear to be encrusting sponges (Ref. 5227). Demersal. Found between the surface to 15 m in depth; rarely until 38 m.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 13455) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Antennatus-strigatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

103 georeferenced occurrence records for Antennatus strigatus are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 39 distinct locations from a sample of 103 records, omitting 13 inland records 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: Mexico (37); Panama (30); Costa Rica (12); France (9); Colombia (8); Ecuador (6); Japan (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2414500) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2414500&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279164 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Antennatus strigatus (Gill, 1863) 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 183522) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183522/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2414500) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2414500/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Antennatus strigatus was first formally described as Antennarius strigatus in 1863 by the American biologist Theodore Gill with its type locality given as Cape San Lucas in Baja California. In 1957 Leonard Peter Schultz designated this species as the type species of the new genus Antennatus. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Antennatus in the family Antennariidae within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

The genus name Antennatus is derived from "given an antenna", an allusion to first dorsal spine being adapted into a tentacle on the snout used as a lure to attract prey. The species epithet, strigatus, means "streaked" or "striped", a reference to the irregular dark streaks on this species.

Antennatus strigatus has a slightly compressed rather globose body. The mouth is large and points upwards. The illicium lacks spinules and is roughly equal in length to the second dorsal spine, tapers to a point and has a small, lobe-like esca. The second dorsal spine is straight and free of the skin on the head while the third dorsal spine is upward pointing, immobile and is encased in a protuberance within the skin. They have pectoral fins which resemble limbs and which have an elbow-like joint, the pectoral fin has a broad connection to the body. There are small round gill openings and these are located under and to the rear of the base of the pectoral fin. There is no caudal peduncle and the posterior margins of the dorsal and anal fins are joined body at the base of caudal fin. The skin on the body is rough to the touch as it has a dense covering of bifurcated spicules that are grouped together in wart-like structures. The overall color varies through yellowish to pinkish red with dark brown to blackish streaks and lines, some individuals may be almost entirely yellow at times. This species has a maximum published standard length of 8 cm.

Antennatus strigatus is found in the central eastern Pacific from the central Gulf of California south to Ecuador, including all the Revillagigedo Islands, Cocos Island, Malpelo Island and the Galapagos Islands. It is found at depths between 0 and 38 m, although they are not normally found at depths greater than 15 m, in small crevices in rocky reefs, in particular in vertical walls.

Source: Wikipedia: Antennatus strigatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antennatus_strigatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.