Smooth Anglerfish, Histiophryne bougainvilli (Valenciennes, 1837)
Bougainville's Anglerfish, Bougainville's Frogfish
Click to enlarge image
© Dave Harasti
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Histiophryne
- Species
- bougainvilli
- Family
- Antennariidae
- Order
- Lophiiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
-
- Size Range
- It grows to about 7 cm in length.
Introduction
The Smooth Anglerfish has a small lure on the snout. This unusual fish occurs on coral reefs and inshore rocky reefs in temperate waters.
Identification
Fishes in the genus Histiophryne can be separated from all other anglerfishes by having the second and third dorsal fin spines showing only as low protruberances on the top of the head. They also have the posterior-most margin of the dorsal and anal fins extending beyond the base of the caudal fin.
Habitat
The species occurs on coral reefs and inshore temperate rocky reefs.
Distribution
The species occurs from southern Queensland, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Life history cycle
As shown in some of the images, the species protects the developing eggs by wrapping the tail along the side of the body.
References
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Pietsch, T.W. & D.B. Grobecker. 1987. Frogfishes of the World. Systematics, Zoogeography, and Behavioural Ecology. Stanford University Press. Pp. 420.
