Genus: Abantennarius, Frogfishes, Island Frogfish

ABANTENNARIUS

FROGFISHES, ISLAND FROGFISH

Body globular, somewhat compressed; first dorsal spine "fishing pole" without spines, fish lure tiny to absent; 2nd dorsal spine free, not connected to head by membrane; third dorsal spine movable or immovable; a very large, upward directed mouth; limb-like pectoral fins with an "elbow" joint, that fin broadly connected to body; a small round gill opening, below and behind pectoral base; tail base absent; rear margins of dorsal and anal fins join body at base of tail fin; pelvic fins short, with only 1 of 5 rays branched; tail fin with some rays branched; skin of body thick, rough, densely covered with short, close-set, spicules; usually a dark, non-ocellated blotch on upper back and base of dorsal fin.

This Pantropical genus contains 12 species; 3 species in the TEP and 1 in the Greater Caribbean.