Species: Histrio histrio, Sargassumfish, Sargassumfish Frogfish

Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758)

Sargassumfish, Sargassumfish Frogfish

A globular somewhat compressed body; head not spiny; eyes on sides of head; a very large, upward directed mouth with many small teeth; a small round gill opening, below and behind pectoral base; dorsal rays I+I+I,11-13; fishing pole half length of 2nd dorsal spine, lure oval, with numerous parallel folds, a cluster of short filaments at its base; 2nd dorsal spine narrow, straight to slightly curved, not connected to head by membrane; 3rd dorsal spine movable, connected to head by skin, with numerous papillae and appendages; limb-like pectoral fins with an "elbow" joint, that fin not connected to body; pelvic fins long (>25% of SL); with a tail base; all rays of tail fin branched; skin of body smooth, appears naked; body and fins with numerous skin flaps.

Olive to yellowish to brown, with numerous white flecks; often dark brown mottling and reticulations on body and fins; tail with several irregular dark bars.

Reaches 20 cm.

Usually found in association with floating Sargassum seaweed, but also occurs in mangroves and seagrass beds.

Depth range of adults 0-5 m; larvae at 50-600 m.

The Indo-west Pacific and both sides of the Atlantic, Maine to Ururguay.