CG Compass: Canadian Geographic blogCG Compass: Canadian Geographic blog


Crazy creature of the day: FROGFISH!


Posted by Amy Smart on Tuesday, July 27, 2010



Some creatures swim in the ocean. Some creatures walk on land. And some creatures break all the rules.

Today's crazy creature of the day is the frogfish: a stocky fish that can't seem to make up its mind. Unlike most fishes, the frogfish uses webbed fins to crawl across the ocean floor. Evolution in action!

Frogfishes belong to the anglerfish family and are found in most oceans and seas in the world. A quick google image search shows the huge variety within the species--from the hairy to the horned. Some frogfishes are brightly coloured, others are carefully camouflaged and still others can shift colours like a chameleon.

Frogfishes eat small fish, crabs and shrimp. They generally wait for prey to approach, then either release chemical attractants or seduce them with worm- or fish-like lure. Once close enough, the frogfish suddenly engulfs the prey with its mouth.

The muppet-like fishes have few natural predators. But they have weak social lives, since they will happily eat each other.




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