For that reason, the hairy frogfish, scientifically referred to as Antennarius striatus, is one of the most captivating fishes in the marine world and among biologists.
These fish species belong to the family frogfish, and it is known that they have long, filamentous processes on their body surface called dermal spinules. These ‘hairs’ help the creatures survive in their environment; the gorgonacea imitates the touch and feel of algae, or sponges, and thus is almost undetectable by either the predator or the prey.
Another fact that can hardly be explained is that hairy frogfish are perfectly camouflaged hunters. They are carnivores that primarily hunt by stealth; once they get close enough, they simply grab their prey. It has a solicitation organ known as the esca, which hangs from a modified dorsal ray called the illicium and lures the prey straight into the monster’s mouth.
When a prey item is within range, the frogfish is capable of launching itself and grabbing its target at blistering speeds, and once again, the mouth gap has been noted to increase as the frogfish engulfs its prey in a matter of seconds.
Hairy Frogfish is another name for Lophiophis guttata, and it inhabits oceans and seas on different continents, including tropical and subtropical ones. The inhabitants of coral reefs, sandy bottoms, and seagrass bed areas are best camouflaged.
Although they look somewhat strange, these fish are true eccentrics and display incredibly accurate reactions to their surroundings.
Hairy Frogfish is fun to learn, so the study of this wonderful creation of natural brilliance aids in discovering the mysteries down the sea.
That is why interest in the Caribbean reef sharks can be described as rather high among people who are interested in marine biology, underwater photography, or just enjoying the phenomena of nature.
ASH CK