Painted frogfish
Scientific name: Antennarius pictus
Medium size frog fish, with highly variable colour. The only constant are the rounded dark spots, surrounded by a lighter area, very effectively mimicking the sponge or ascidians pores. It can be covered with fouling. Few (if any) warts. Illicium longer than the second dorsal spine, that is short, club shaped, and with a small membrane. The esca is a small pom-pom of short filaments. 16 cm. Encountered in bay, lagoon, along the external reef and deep reef. Typically associated with sponges, on which the mimetism is remarkable. Confusion possible with Antennarius maculatus, or with Antennarius commersoni young specimens. A. pictus is distinguished by the rounded dark spots, with lighter edges, remarkably mimicking the sponges pores and oscules. It is less warty than A. maculatus, with club shaped second dorsal spine, membrane less evident.
Habitat: Back reef, Reef flat, Sand
Distribution: Indo-Pacific
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