| Sargassum Fish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Antennariidae |
| Genus: | Histrio Fischer, 1813 |
| Species: | H. histrio |
| Binomial name | |
| Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) |
|
The sargassum fish, Histrio histrio (literally, "the actor"), is a frogfish of the family Antennariidae, the only species in its genus. It lives among Sargassum weed which floats in subtropical oceans. Its length can reach 20 centimeters (7.9 in).
Histrio histrio is a very strange-looking fish that blends well with its surroundings in its seaweed habitat. In colouring it is mottled green and brown on a paler background and it has many weed-like protrusions from its otherwise smooth skin. It has a fleshy growth on its upper lip known as an illicium, which acts as a dangling fishing lure. The gill openings are small. The dorsal fin has 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays. The anal fin has no spines and 7-13 soft rays. The pectoral fins are stalked.[2]
The sargassum fish is a voracious predator. It stalks its prey among the tangled weed relying on its cryptic camouflage. It can clamber through and cling to the Sargassum stalks with its prehensile pectoral fins. It dangles its lure as bait for shrimps, small fish and other invertebrates that may be taking shelter in the weed. It is able to dart forward to grab its prey by expelling water forcibly through its gill slits. It can expand its mouth to many times its original size and can swallow prey larger than itself.[3]
Its eggs are stuck together by gelatinous mucus into an egg raft.[2]