Randall's frogfish (Antennarius randalli)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Antennarius randalli · Authority: Allen, 1970 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 272542.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=272542 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 8 cm · Depth range: 8–31 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Inhabit outer reef slopes (Ref. 1602). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Oviparous. Eggs are bound in ribbon-like sheath or mass of gelatinous mucus called 'egg raft' or 'veil' (Ref. 6773).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7295) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Antennarius-randalli.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

55 georeferenced occurrence records for Antennarius randalli are published through GBIF from 17 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 31 distinct locations from a sample of 55 records, omitting 3 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: Indonesia (21); Philippines (15); Japan (3); Chile (2); Papua New Guinea (2); Australia (1); Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1); Fiji (1); Israel (1); Kenya (1); Comoros (1); Malaysia (1); New Caledonia (1); French Polynesia (1); Chinese Taipei (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5214745) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5214745&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=272542 (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 randalli Allen, 1970 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 67968953) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67968953/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5214745) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5214745/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Randall's frogfish was first formally described in 1970 by the American ichthyologist Gerald R. Allen with its type locality given as off Motu Tautara, Easter Island. Within the genus Antennarius Randall's frogfish belongs to the pauciradiatus species group, along with A. pauciradiatus. 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

Randall's frogfish 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 honours John Ernest Randall of the Bishop Museum who enabled Allen to participate in the 1969 expedition to Easter Island on which the holotype was collected.

Description

Randall's frogfish has a short illicium with thin filaments and an esca, or "lure", which is split into several thin filaments. There are two white spots on the caudal fin and other whiote spots are to the rear of the eye, near the pectoral fin and one at the base of the dorsal fin.

The second and third dorsal spines are connected by a membrane, this membrane forms a pocket for the esca. The dorsal fin is supported by 12 or 13 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 soft rays. This species has a maximum published standard length of 8 cm.

Distribution and habitat

Randall's frogfish is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It has been recorded from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea east as far as the Marquesas Islands and Easter Island, in 2020 it was recorded from the Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea. It is found from the surface down to depths of 53 m in rubble and rocky habitats and it is often found in association with coral reefs and algae.

Source: Wikipedia: Randall's frogfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall%27s_frogfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.