24th edition of Marine Life monthly post. Marine Life post published every 19th of the month. It aims to share information on marine life species and to promote their conservation. All images here are taken by Indah Susanti unless stated otherwise.

Frogfish in Ambon (Indonesia) – Click for larger image

Sometimes I get the feeling that the frogfish is a magical creature from the sea. Blame it on ‘The Princess and the Frog’ movie and ‘The Frog Prince’ story 😀

Well, the frogfish is not the prettiest fish in the ocean, but its face gives the fish a character. In my imagination, it could be a magical creature who is grumpy and weird with super power to camouflage and fast suction. Sometimes the frogfish look like a clumsy species with a bumpy body and awkward “walk”.

Followings are the facts about the frogfish.

The frogfish is a fish that walks. The fish walks with sides fins that have joints like toes. They can swim too. This video on walking frogfish was made by Dave Zeller.

The fish camouflage so well that sometimes they look like corals. They can change the colors of their body to match to the surrounding.

Frogfish found in Dauin (the Philippines)

Frogfish found in Ambon (Indonesia)

The camouflage is not for protection but to hunt the prey. When the prey gets closer to the frogfish,  the frogfish uses its lure then opens its mouth rapidly to create suction that makes the prey is drawn into its mouth. The frogfish suction is the fastest in the fish world (source). The following video of how the frogfish hunting its prey was made by Fred Moberg.

Frogfish eats other frogfish, although it is not their main diet. While practicing cannibalism, frogfish usually eat shrimps and other fishes as their daily diet.

Baby Frogfish

Baby Frogfish

There is numerous number frogfish species and by far I find the Hairy frogfish and the Psychedelic frogfish are the unique ones because of their unusual looks. These frogfish could be found in Ambon (Indonesia).

Hairy Frogfish

Psychedelic frogfish (picture by David Hall/Sealifephotos.com)

Now, how do you find the frogfish? Could they be magical creatures from the sea?