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Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) — Antennariidae

Deepwater frogfish

Nudiantennarius subteres
Family: Antennariidae

The Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) is a saltwater fish of the family Antennariidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–128.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Indonesia, Philippines

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Description

The deepwater frogfish is a small frogfish (Antennariidae) from coastal waters of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a stocky, lumpy body in variable colours and a small rod on the head with a lure. As a motionless ambush hunter it shelters on sand and rubble bottoms of deeper coastal waters and engulfs passing prey. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Deepwater frogfish?

The Deepwater frogfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Deepwater frogfish live?

The Deepwater frogfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Indonesia, Philippines

How big does the Deepwater frogfish get?

The Deepwater frogfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Deepwater frogfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Deepwater frogfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) — Antennariidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) — Antennariidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) — Antennariidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Tsu Soo Tan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Deepwater frogfish (Nudiantennarius subteres) — Antennariidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Deepwater frogfish sourced
Scientific name
Nudiantennarius subteres
Family
Antennariidae
Other names
Deepwater frogfish; Deep-water frogfish; Spiny-head anglerfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
128.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Indonesia, Philippines sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Antennariidae

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