Rhycherus filamentosus

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Rhycherus filamentosus
Tassled Angler Fish.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Antennariidae
Genus: Rhycherus
Species:
R. filamentosus
Binomial name
Rhycherus filamentosus
(Castelnau, 1872) [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Chironectes bifurcatus McCoy, 1886
  • Chironectes filamentosusCastelnau, 1872
  • Rhycherus wildii Ogilby, 1907

Rhycherus filamentosus, commonly known as the tasselled anglerfish, [3] [4] is a species of frogfish endemic to southern Australia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and southeastern Indian Ocean. It is a well-camouflaged predator and lies in wait on the seabed for unwary prey to approach too close.

Taxonomy

This fish was one of a number of species of fish trawled up from Gulf St Vincent in Southern Australia by Frederick George Waterhouse, the curator of the South Australian Museum. He sent these specimens to the French naturalist Francis de Laporte de Castelnau who was the French consul in Melbourne. de Castelnau formally described this fish in 1872, giving it the name Chironectes filamentosus, but it was later transferred to the genus Rhycherus , making it Rhycherus filamentosus. [5]

Description

Frogfish in this family have laterally compressed, globose bodies, laterally-placed eyes and large, obliquely-slanting mouths. The first dorsal spine is modified into an elongated, slender illicium which is tipped by an esca, a whitish, worm-like lure. [6] Rhycherus filamentosus can grow to a total length of about 23 cm (9 in). The skin is copiously decorated with threads and filaments that resemble fronds of red algae. The basic colour of this well-camouflaged fish is reddish-brown, with vertical bars and patches of dark and pale brown, and whitish underparts. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Rhycherus filamentosus is endemic to Australia and occurs in the southeastern Indian Ocean as well as the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Spencer Gulf in South Australia at 130°E to the eastern end of the Bass Strait at 149°E. It is associated with reefs and can be found down to about 60 m (200 ft). [4]

Ecology

A benthic fish, R. filamentosus lives on the seabed and seldom swims, instead moving around with its pectoral and pelvic fins in a kind of "walk". It is a well-camouflaged ambush predator; it rests on the seabed and when a potential prey approaches, it starts to waggle its esca. [7] If the prey comes closer, the fish positions itself for action, and then strikes with great rapidity by opening its mouth and drawing in the prey by suction. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotfin frogfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striated frogfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glauert's anglerfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Thaumatichthys</i> Genus of fishes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglerfish</span> Bony fish of the teleost order Lophiiformes

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<i>Histiophryne</i> Genus of fishes

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Inimicus filamentosus, also known as the filament-finned stinger, barred ghoul, two-stick stingfish, or devil scorpionfish, is a member of the Inimicus genus of venomous fishes. It is a member of the Synanceiidae family of the Scorpaeniformes order of ray-finned fishes. These benthic fishes are found on sandy or silty substrates of lagoon and seaward reefs, in coastal regions of tropical oceans. Like all the other known species of Inimicus, I. filamentosus is a demersal ambush predator. They are nocturnal, and often dig themselves partially into the sandy seabed during the day.

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<i>Rhycherus</i> Genus of fishes

Rhycherus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are endemic to the waters off Australia. This genus is classified in the monogeneric family Rhycheridae, the Balrog frogfishes, by some authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaggy frogfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted frogfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Abantennarius coccineus</i> Species of fish

Abantennarius coccineus, the scarlet or freckled frogfish, is a species of frogfish originally classified as Chironectes coccineus and Antennarius coccineus. It lives within tropical waters and has a central distribution being around Indo-East-Pacific areas- excluding Hawaii. The habitat of the scarlet frogfish is in the shallow zones of the ocean. It is found within reef areas, in rocky mounds or sponges where there are places for it to hide amongst from predators. The scarlet frogfish comes in a variety of colours, from tan and brown colours to bright reds and yellows and will grow to a maximum length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in). It can be identified taxonomically through its pectoral rays, the presence of dark patches that appear on its fins and body, along with its lack of distinctive tail base. The scarlet frogfish is not harmful to humans and is not caught by fisheries for consumption purposes, however it has been caught previously for studies relating to the abundance of reef-dwelling fish and as bycatch of shrimp trawling. Similar to other frogfish species, the scarlet frogfish is a predatory carnivore and exhibits a low degree of sociality, only interacting with other scarlet frogfish during their mating period.

Abantennarius analis, the tailjet frogfish, tailjet anglerfish or dwarf frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This species is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Abantennarius dorehensis</i> Species of fish

Abantennarius dorehensis, the New Guinean frogfish, bandtail frogfish, Dorei frogfish or white-spotted frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The New Guinean frogfish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Antennatus tuberosus</i> Species of fish

Antennatus tuberosus, the tuberculate anglerfish, pygmy angler, pygmy frogfish or tuberculated frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This fish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Echinophryne reynoldsi</i> Species of fish

Echinophryne reynoldsi is a species of fish in the family Antennariidae. It was first described in 1984 by Theodore Wells Pietsch III and Rudie Hermann Kuiter.

Rhycherus gloveri, known as Glover's anglerfish, is a species of fish in the family Antennariidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in rocky reef environments on the country's southern and western coasts. It reaches 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length, and it differs from its close relative R. filamentosus in illicium length and escal morphology. It was named for Dr. C.J.M. Glover (1935-1992), a former ichthyologist of the South Australian Museum.

References

  1. Pietsch, T. (2022). "Rhycherus filamentosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T207614261A207760296. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T207614261A207760296.en . Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Tasselled Anglerfish: Rhycherus filamentosus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872)". FishBase. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. Saunders, Brian (2012). Discovery of Australia's Fishes: A History of Australian Ichthyology to 1930. Csiro Publishing. p. 122. ISBN   978-0-643-10672-7.
  6. Pietsch, Theodore W. (2005). "Antennariidae: Frogfishes". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. 1 2 Bertelsen, E.; Pietsch, T.W. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 138–139. ISBN   0-12-547665-5.