FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Warty frogfish are marine benthic ambush predators that are very colorful. But they are also famous for camouflaging by changing their colors. Yes, they change their skin color, it's a defense mechanism. This helps them to let their prey come nearer as they are not very good at swimming.
Look at the adaptations of this fish. The first modified dorsal fin spine, the illicium, looks like a lure and is also used as lure for prey. The modified pectoral spine fins look like limbs that help in their locomotion on the sea beds and between corals. The round gill openings behind their pectoral fins help in buoyancy.
There are so many names for this warty frogfish. Let's list them: Clown anglerfish, wartskin angler, Galloping clown frogfish, wartskin frogfish, large-spotted angler, wartskin anglerfish , wartface frogfish, wartface anglerfish, warty anglerfish, clown frogfish.
This article gives you an insight into the interesting lives of frogfish. If you like reading these facts, check out these codfish facts and milkfish facts for more.
The warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) is a marine water frogfish. It is also known as the clown frogfish. There are many species of frogfishes in the world.
Warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) belong to the Actinopterygii class. They are members of the Antennariidae family.
The exact data about this marine water fish population is not available.
Warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) are found in the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. They are found near Mauritius and Reunion Island. The dive sites of these fishes are famous.
They take shelter in rocky coral reefs in the oceans. Warty frogfish prefer Indo-Pacific tropical marine water. Most of the adult species are associated with the sponges at a depth of about twenty meters.
Warty frogfish may spend its time alone. But during the breeding season, the pair sticks together.
There is no data available on the lifespan of this marine water warty frogfish. But in general, frogfishes live up to five years in the wild.
The females spawn 40,000-180,000 eggs, and they spawn several times over a few weeks of time. Their eggs float together in a mass of gelatinous mucus-like substance known as egg raft and veil. Once the embryos hatch they sink to the bottom and stay there during this planktonic stage for around two months. After that, young larvae with a considerably larger head will start their lives on their own without any parental care.
According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of the marine water Warty frogfish (A. maculatus) is Not Evaluated.
The Warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) has wart-like projections or small dermal spinules on their soft skin, hence their name. Their body appears globulous. The wartface anglerfish has a larger mouth. The first modified dorsal fin spine, the illicium, looks like a lure and is also used as a lure to prey. The modified pectoral spine fins look like limbs that help in their locomotion on the sea beds and between corals. The round gill openings behind their pectoral fins help in the buoyancy in the absence of a swim bladder. Hence are called galloping clown frogfish. Interestingly, wartskin anglerfish are masters in the art of changing color to camouflage into their surroundings. Wartface frogfish come in multiple yellow, orange, white, and red colors.
The warty frogfish (A. maculatus) are fishes that lure another fish with a fish. These creatures lure their prey nearer before gulping them whole with their big mouths. Sometimes it is difficult to locate this marine water clown frogfish in their surroundings as they change their colors and camouflage.
Not much information is available regarding the communication of this fish species of wartskin anglerfish but their bio-fluorescence characteristic (re-emitting ultraviolet light as red) is believed to be an essential part of their communication. Unfortunately, they are solitary creatures and don't communicate much with other frogfishes in their surroundings.
Adult warty fish may grow up to six 5.9 in (15 cm) in length with fins modified into a lure. But, like any other frogfish, even a warty frogfish has an extensible body and a very big mouth.
Warty frogfish do not swim very fast, and their speed is not available. In fact, the creatures crawl around and perch on the coral reef. The modified pectoral fins look like limbs that help in their locomotion. In addition, the round gill openings behind their pectoral fins help in the buoyancy in the absence of a swim bladder. And they sort of gallop around. Hence is also known as galloping clown frogfish.
No specific information is available regarding the weight of this particular fish species.
The male and female of this fish species do not have any specific name based on their gender.
A baby warty frogfish does not have any specific name but just called a juvenile warty or clown frogfish.
Warty frogfish lure and prey clams, shrimps, and small fish. But they can also gulp fishes of almost their size into their mouth found in their surroundings. Wartface anglerfish are masters in gulping their prey in a split second and are benthic ambush predators.
Warty frogfish are not poisonous. But the toadfish that belongs to the Batrachoididae family are poisonous, although there is a disagreement on whether they are frogfish or not.
Yes, they make a great pet. But they are to be kept in the saltwater aquarium because it is not a freshwater fish. A tank of about thirty gallons is sufficient for two of them. The more the fish the more chances of cannibalism. The foods that are generally fed to this species is predominantly frozen meat. Live small fish should be avoided. Larger tangs and raccoon butterflyfish are kept as their tank mates. Since these wartface frogfish eat up smaller fish, plenty of rock forms or dead corals should be added for them to perch on. Before taking them in, a thorough discussion with the aquarists who deal with these categories of fishes is required. Antennarius commerson, Antennarius maculatus, and Antennarius pictus are the three family categories of the frogfishes famous with the aquarists.
In few species of deepwater frogfish, the male is very small in comparison to the female and attaches to the female for life like a parasite.
Frogfishes are considered the master of the art of camouflaging in waters.
Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commerson) belongs to the same genus as the warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus).
Frogfishes are sometimes their own predators. Some variants eat other frogfishes, including their potential mates. Moray eels have also been witnessed eating frogfish.
Most frogfishes are not poisonous, but the toadfish that belong to the Batrachoididae family are poisonous, and some argue that these toadfishes are not frogfishes. Well, that thing will settle eventually!
Most studies indicate the frogfish are reef-safe. Their habitat itself is the rocky coral reefs and coral sponges. And no, they do not harm or prey on any coral or stationary invertebrates. However, there are instances where the frogfishes disturb the corals by digging at the bottoms.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including swai fish facts and skate fish facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our warty frogfish coloring pages.
https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/warty-frogfish/135
https://www.uwphotographyguide.com/frogfish
https://fishkeepingforever.com/warty-frogfish-antennarius-maculatus/
https://betterknowafish.com/2013/05/08/warty-frogfish-antennarius-maculatus/amp/
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.