Giant Frogfish

The Antennarius commerson, known for the names of Commerson’s Frogfish, Fishing Frogfish, Giant Anglerfish, Big Anglerfish, and Black Frogfish, but more commonly known as Giant Frogfish, is a member of the antennariidae family, are benthic creatures, and can be found the lowest part of the sea or ocean. This creature is also known to be oviparous or egg-bearing, protecting their eggs while still unhatched.

It can size up to, more or less, 38 centimeters, and found usually 5 to 70 meters deep in lagoons, seaward reefs and in ocean floor, with sandy bottom and rich in corals, which they use for camouflage purposes, so that they can hunt for their food. They camouflage near a prey, following its movements, copying the surroundings, and then open its mouth and expand it with a maximum size 2 times its body size to engulf it prey. They can ‘walk’ around the bottom part of the ocean with their pectoral fins. In reproduction, the female – after mating – guards the eggs while on camouflage, and when possible predators for the eggs draw near, the female parent prey on them.

This giant frogfish is known widely for its ability to camouflage, and turn to almost any color possible. It can turn into variety of color that when blending with the surrounding, it is almost impossible to find if unfamiliar with the areas you are diving in. The fish can have the color of the corals, the reefs, or even rocks that are near it. This ability helps them to survive in their habitat, dodging predators from eating them, and getting near possible prey for its survival.

The Giant Frogfish can be found around all coral and artificial reefs around the dive-sites of Dauin.