Rhycherus filamentosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Antennariidae
Genus: Rhycherus
Species:
R. filamentosus
Binomial name
Rhycherus filamentosus
(Castelnau, 1872)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Chironectes bifurcatus McCoy, 1886
  • Chironectes filamentosus Castelnau, 1872
  • Rhycherus wildii Ogilby, 1907

Rhycherus filamentosus, commonly known as the tasselled anglerfish,[2][3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[2]

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).[3]

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.[6] 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.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Tasselled Anglerfish: Rhycherus filamentosus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872)". FishBase. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Pietsch, Theodore W. (2005). "Antennariidae: Frogfishes". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  6. 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.
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