Home · Antennariidae · Scarlet frogfish
Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) — Antennariidae

Scarlet frogfish

Antennatus coccineus
Family: Antennariidae

The Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) is a fish of the family Antennariidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific; reef flats and tide pools.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Scarlet frogfish?

Get the app

Description

The scarlet frogfish is a frogfish (Antennariidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species has a stocky, warty body whose colour varies greatly, from red to brown or yellow, matched to its surroundings. With its pectoral fins it 'walks' over the bottom of reef flats and tide pools. With a small lure on the head it attracts prey, which it engulfs in a lightning-fast gulp. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Scarlet frogfish?

The Scarlet frogfish has an irregular in shape body, is mainly red-orange and shows a marbled pattern. Variably coloured, warty body; 'walks' on the pectoral fins and lures prey with a small rod.

Where does the Scarlet frogfish live?

The Scarlet frogfish is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific; reef flats and tide pools.

How big does the Scarlet frogfish get?

The Scarlet frogfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm. On average the species is around 9 cm.

Is the Scarlet frogfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Scarlet frogfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Scarlet frogfish edible?

The Scarlet frogfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) — Antennariidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Ben Cantrell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) — Antennariidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) — Antennariidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Hiroya Kidoguchi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Scarlet frogfish (Antennatus coccineus) — Antennariidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Scarlet frogfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Scarlet frogfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Scarlet frogfish sourced
Scientific name
Antennatus coccineus
Family
Antennariidae
Other names
Freckled anglerfish; Freckled frogfish; Whitebait frogfish; Anglerfish; Freckled angler; Hawaiian frogfish; Scarlet anglerfish

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Average length (cm)
9.0 sourced
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Indo-Pacific; reef flats and tide pools. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes and crustaceans, lured in with the small rod sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Variably coloured, warty body; 'walks' on the pectoral fins and lures prey with a small rod. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Antennatus

More from the family Antennariidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Scarlet frogfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Scarlet frogfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Scarlet frogfish? Get the app