Frogfishes

Distribution: all tropical seas except the Mediterranean. Body short, spherical, and laterally compressed with lateral eyes; mouth large with 2-4 more or less irregular rows of small, villiform teeth on upper and lower jaws; tube-like gill opening under pectoral base, used for jet-propelling. Three dorsal spines on head, the anteriormost (illicium) free and modified as a lure, usually with a distinct fleshy bait (esca). Cutaneous filaments or appendages nearly always present; color and color pattern highly variable from white, yellow, red to dark brown and black. Juveniles and adults benthic in 0-300 m, with the single exception of Histrio, which pelagic in floating sargassum weed. Voracious carnivores feeding on smaller fishes or crustaceans attracted by wriggling the bait. To 33 SL in Antennarius avalonis.