A mystery fish caught off Sydney this week has been identified as a Striate Anglerfish more commonly known as a walking frogfish.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A friend of Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club president Les Waldock caught the fish off Sydney and was at a loss to try and identify it. Dylan Kirkpatrick caught the fish in Sydney Harbour on Tuesday.
We at the Narooma News contacted the fish experts at the Australian Museum in an attempt to solve the mystery.
Amanda Hay, research assistant in the Ichthyology department said the fish was the very charismatic Striate Anglerfish, Antennarius striatus.
Anglerfishes include some of the best camouflaged of all fishes. They have extraordinary adaptations including a lure for attracting their prey, a large mouth and "hidden gill openings". Striate Anglerfishes are extremely variable in form and colour, and even fish from the same area can look quite different. Colours range from red, orange and yellow, through to green, brown or black. Some are heavily striped, while other Striate Anglerfish have broken stripes or spots, or lack stripes entirely.
“You will notice by the images the colouration and hairiness is highly varied depending on its size and habitat,” Ms Hay said.
She suggested checking out this video as they are such fabulous fish!
