Histrio histrio
Sargassum fish
©Dan Montgomery: Histrio histrio about 3 cm long from Lizard Island. This fish settled onto an experimental patch reef and was grown to this size in the aquarium.
©Anne Hoggett: Histrio histrio about 3 cm long from Lizard Island. This fish settled onto an experimental patch reef and was grown to this size in the aquarium.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Lophiiformes
Family
Antennariidae
Genus
Histrio
Species
Histrio histrio
Colours
Distinguishing features
Like all frogfishes, pectoral fins have an "elbow" joint, the mouth is large and opens upwards, and there are three dorsal spines in front of the main dorsal fin.
The Sargassumfish has very long pelvic fins, more than 25% of body length including the tail. Illicium ("fishing rod", modified first dorsal fin ray) is short and inconspicuous. Second dorsal fin is erect and appears hairy due to protuberances, and is shorter than the third which has a membrane forming a triangular fin and is well-separated from the rest of the dorsal fin. Skin is smooth with scattered cirri and skin flaps. Colouration is mottled in shades of brown and yellow/brown to match its usual Sargassum habitat.
Size
- Up to 19 cm (length according to Allen and Erdmann, 2012)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Allen and M.V. Erdmann, G.R. (2012). Reef fishes of the East Indies. Volumes I-III in: Reef fishes of the East Indies. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia. LIRS catalog number 90162.