Shaggy angler (Antennarius hispidus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Antennarius hispidus · Authority: (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 217845.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chironectes hispidus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801); Lophius hispidus Bloch & Schneider, 1801.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217845 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 20 cm · Depth range: 0–90 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

FishBase notes: Inhabits still muddy habitats that are either deep or offshore (Ref. 48635) or shallow rocky and coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Oviparous. Eggs are bound in ribbon-like sheath or mass of gelatinous mucus called 'egg raft' or 'veil' (Ref. 6773). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 57178. Solitary and often among leaf-eater debris (Ref 90102).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8074) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Antennarius-hispidus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

185 georeferenced occurrence records for Antennarius hispidus are published through GBIF from 21 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 93 distinct locations from a sample of 185 records, omitting 19 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: Australia (60); Indonesia (19); Philippines (18); Papua New Guinea (16); Thailand (16); India (13); South Africa (7); Mozambique (6); Chinese Taipei (5); Japan (4); Réunion (4); Malaysia (3); New Caledonia (3); Bangladesh (2); Kenya (2).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Réunion Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5214680) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5214680&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217845 (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 Antennarius hispidus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) 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 67968659) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/67968659/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5214680) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5214680/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The shaggy frogfish was first formally described in 1801 as Lophius hispidus by the German naturalists Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider with its type locality given as the Coromandel Coast of India. Within the genus Antennarius the shaggy 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.

The shaggy 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 hispida means "bristly", a reference to the dense covering of spinules on the skin.

The shaggy frogfish grows up to 20 cm in length. Like other members of its family, it has a globulous, extensible body, and its soft skin is covered with small dermal spinules. The skin can also be adorned, but not systematically, with cutaneous appendages reminding one of hairs. Its large mouth is prognathous and allows it to gobble up prey as large as itself. The colouring of their bodies is extremely variable because they always tend to match their living environments.

Frogfishes have the capacity to change colour and pigment pattern in few weeks. However, the dominant colour goes from yellow to brownish-orange, passing through a whole range of related nuances. Their bodies and fins can be endowed with roughly parallel, dark stripes, some radiating outward from the eye. The belly is free from stripes.

The first dorsal spine, called illicium, is modified and is used as a fishing lure. Its extremity is endowed with a characteristic oval esca composed of a multitude of slender filaments in a tuft. This lure is a way to separate easily A. hispidus from Antennarius striatus, which presents similar physical characteristics (stripes, coloration, cutaneous appendages) and with which it is often confused. The illicium has the same length as the second dorsal spine. The second dorsal spine is practically straight and is mobile, and the third one is bent towards the back of the body. They are well separated from each other and also from the dorsal fin.

Shaggy frogfish are found in tropical coastal waters from Indian Ocean and in the middle of the Indo-Pacific area, but are absent from oceanic islands.

This species inhabits shallow rocky and coral reefs to deep muddy habitats. It can be found from the surface to 90 m deep with average occurrences at 45 m.

As all frogfishes, A. hispidus is a voracious carnivore which gulps down all the prey which pass in its strike area, mainly fish, but even some congeners. Its prey range in size up to close to its own size.

Like other members of its family, it has a benthic and solitary lifestyle. They gather during mating period. but do not tolerate each other any more after the act of fertilisation. The male can kill or eat the female if she stays close.

Source: Wikipedia: Shaggy frogfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaggy_frogfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.