Frogfish fascination

[smb2]

I continue to search out these crazy creatures here in Curacao.
Can anybody tell me if the red "hair" on this Paul Bunyan wanna be is algae growing on the fish or part of the animal itself.

[Leslie Harris]

Love the beard! Several species are quite hairy, just like scorpionfish. It's hard to tell which species this is without a side view or a good look at the lure but it's probably either nummifer or bermudensis.

Have you checked out Teresa Zubin's froggie site?
http://www.frogfish.ch/species-arten/An ... ensis.html
http://www.frogfish.ch/species-arten/An ... mifer.html

[smb2]

Yes I was on her site. She is in SE Asia for 2 months so I did not pose the question.
A. multiocellatus is the predominant species here in Curacao, and the Long lured comes in many
shapes and sizes, but I have never seen one with this "hairy" texture. So I was wondering if this was an external algae growth.
http://sbysshe.smugmug.com/Underwater/C ... 4737_CZvEe

[Critternut]

Lets here it for the froggie lovers!!!

I love the way our oceans seem to have so many half baked creatures, the frogfish is a prime example. These incredible creature's seem to morph, at the drop of a hat.


I love trying to catch these guys with some kind of behavior



feeding, yawning, even swimming?...if thats what you want to call it. More like falling through the water, or jetting...

The growth appears to be algae but i (being a layman) have to go with natural
frondosa or some sort of hairy apendage...i have seen this alot, at varying stages but only a select frogfish. Not all, suggesting that it is a natural occurrence within the animal, not a growth. IMHO


Thanks for your posts!