A fish swishes through the waters just above a cluster of corals on the seafloor, where it encounters a hairy-looking, blobby thing. Suddenly, a hairy-faced, bloblike creature emerges and grabs the fish in its mouth. As it eats the fish, we see tentacles sprouting out of its face. This is no mythological beast; it’s a real-life species called a hairy frogfish. Its name comes from the fact that it looks like a giant, furry amphibian. But it’s actually a type of fish.
The hairy frogfish doesn’t look very much like a typical fish. Instead of fins, it has gills and webbed feet. On its head are two long antennae. These appendages help the fish find food, especially tiny crustaceans. In addition to its unusual features, the hairy frogfish is also really weird looking. It has a large mouth filled with sharp teeth, and its body is covered with thick hair.
This strange creature lives in shallow coastal waters around Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. There are about 30 different types of hairy frogfish, each one slightly different from the others. They live among rocks and coral reefs, usually near kelp forests. Although some scientists think that the hairy frogfish evolved from ancestors that lived in deeper ocean waters, most experts believe it came into existence along the coast.
Description
The frogfish is one of the most common reef fishes in tropical waters around the world. It occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Vatican City, France, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Réunion, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turks.
Distribution
The striated frogfish is known to live in coral reefs and seagrass beds where it feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, polychaete worms, bryozoans and corals. They tend to inhabit areas with strong currents and turbid water. This species lives in pairs or groups of up to 20 individuals. Unlike most members of the family Amphistomatidae, the striated frogfish does not possess a swim bladder. Instead, the body cavity contains gas-filled bladders that help regulate buoyancy. These bladders are located behind the head and along the dorsal fin area. When the animal dives, air is expelled into the bladders causing the fish to sink. As soon as the pressure inside the bladders reaches atmospheric levels, the fish begins ascending again.
Habitat
The frogfish lives in tropical and subtropical regions, mainly in shallow, sandy areas or reef habitats. They inhabit water depths ranging from 5–210 m (16–670 ft), averaging about 40 m (130 ft). As the general daily temperatures continue rising, this poses a big threat to the oceans and their inhabitants.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is evidence that the ocean waters are warming up faster than expected. In fact, since the 1970s, the global sea temperature has increased by 0.74°C (1.3°F). This is concerning because it could affect the habitats of many creatures, including the frogfish.
In addition, the NOAA reports that the oceans are getting increasingly acidic due to the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. This is making the water more difficult to absorb oxygen and creating a dangerous situation for marine life.
Hairy Frogfish Aren’t Hairy!
The hairy frogfish doesn’t look like it has hair because it doesn’t really have any. But there is one thing about this fish that does make it quite unique – it has a pair of tiny bumps on its head. These bumps are called papillae, and they serve no purpose except to give the animal a fuzzy appearance.
However, while the bumpy head is what makes the hairy frogfish unique, it isn’t the only thing that sets it apart. There are several species of frogfish that resemble the hairy frogfish, but none of them have the same type of bumps on their heads. So how did the hairy frogfish end up looking like it does? Well, scientists aren’t entirely sure. Some say that the bumps evolved independently, while others think that the bumpiness came from some sort of mutation. Either way, the hairy frogfish definitely looks different from any other member of its family.
So keep reading to learn more about the hairy frogfish and find out why it doesn’t really have anything resembling hair.
Frogfish Habitats and Range
The twelve genera of Antenna-bearing Frogfish are found nearly everywhere on Earth. They live in warm waters with high oxygen levels and low salinity. These fish are often found near coral reefs, rocky bottoms, shipwrecks, and even undersea volcanoes. Most species are nocturnal predators that feed primarily on crabs, shrimp, mollusks, small fishes, and octopuses. Some species are known to eat jellyfish.
The giant frogfish, Antennarus commersoni, has one of the largest ranges among antennariae. Found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, it occurs in coastal areas from South Africa to New Guinea, including the Gulf of Papua, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Celebes, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Midway Atoll, Johnston Atoll, Line Islands, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Islands, Tuvalu, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Easter Island, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Guyana, Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, United States, Mexico, Central America, West Indies.
Frogfish – master of Camouflage
The giant African frogfish is one of the largest fish species known. This large fish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 500 pounds. While it is believed that there is no record of anyone ever seeing a living specimen, scientists believe that the giant African frogfish lives in the deep ocean waters around Africa. In fact, the giant African frogfish is thought to live in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.
While the exact age of the giant African frogfish isn’t known, scientists do know that this fish is sexually mature at about 3 years old. At this stage, the fish begins to develop a bright red coloration on its body. It is during this period that the fish also develops what look like small lures on its head. These lures help attract prey to the fish’s mouth. Scientists believe that the giant African frogs typically feed on crabs, mollusks, shrimp and squid.
As the fish matures further into adulthood, the color changes again. Now the fish becomes a vibrant orange or light brown. The fish also develops larger lures on its head and sometimes even a few longer ones. During this period, the fish also develops a dark area under its jaw. This dark mark helps camouflage the fish while hiding underneath rocks and reefs.
In addition to the colorful markings, the giant African frogfishes also have a unique set of teeth. Each tooth looks similar to a human incisor tooth. However, each tooth is actually hollow inside. Inside the tooth is a nerve that allows the fish to feel pain. This makes sense because the giant African frogfish does eat things such as crustaceans and mollusks. So it stands to reason that this fish might want to avoid getting bitten.
Frogfish Behavior – Predation
The frogfish is one of the most unusual fish in the world. They are often mistaken for sea snakes because of their shape, coloration, and behavior. This particular specimen is about 2 feet long and lives off the coast of Mozambique. In fact, there are no known predators for this species.
This creature is a member of the family Ophidiidae, which includes some of the strangest creatures on Earth. A few members of the family look like giant tadpoles. Others look like large eels. One species looks like a cross between a snake and a lizard. Some even resemble jellyfish.
They live in tropical waters around the globe. They eat small crustaceans, insects, worms, mollusks, and sometimes even each other.
Are Frogfish Poisonous?
Frogfish look like some sort of fishy version of a snake. They are actually related to sharks, but they don’t swim around looking like snakes do. Instead, they live near coral reefs where they feed on small creatures called shrimps.
There are about 30 different kinds of frogfish, most of which are harmless. But there are a few species of batrachoidid that are poisonous. These include the giant hairy frogfish, the black toadfish, and the white toadfish.
The hairy frogfish, Amphirhina septorhynchus, is one of the most common types of frogfish found off the coast of Australia. This type of frogfish is not poisonous because it doesn’t use venom. And even though it looks similar to the deadly stonefish, it does not possess the same toxic properties.
Most people know that frogs produce poison when they bite, but the frogfish uses a different method. When it bites something, it injects a toxin into the wound. Then the body produces enzymes that break down the toxins. If the victim survives, he or she may experience nausea and vomiting.
But the toadfish aren’t poisonous either. They’re members of the family Batrachiodidae. Their name comes from the Greek word “batra,” meaning “toad.” Toadfish are often confused with the poisonous stonefish. Both are native to tropical waters, but the toadfish lives in shallow coastal areas while the stonefish prefers deeper water.
Toadfish usually come in three colors: brown, grayish green, and olive green. The toadfish is rarely seen out of the water, preferring to hide under rocks or logs. They spend much of their time hiding, eating tiny shrimp and crustaceans.
Like many other fish, the toadfish feeds mainly on plankton. In fact, they are considered scavengers. They hunt for food just like crabs and lobsters.
The best places to find frogfish underwater are:
Frogfish are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. They live among coral reefs, rocky outcrops, seaweed beds, mangroves, sandbanks and mudflats. Most species are nocturnal hunters that feed mainly on small crustaceans and fish eggs. They are often seen swimming close to the surface where they use their long tails to steer themselves along the bottom.
Threat to humans
In recent months, scientists have been warning about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. Now, one expert says he’s found evidence that AI systems are actually capable of harming people. In his paper published in Nature Communications, computer scientist David Clarke argues that we shouldn’t trust AI systems because they’re too dangerous to us. He points out that even though AI systems are getting smarter every day, there are still many things they aren’t good at doing. For example, they don’t know how to make decisions based on ethics, and they lack common sense.
Clarke explains that while AI systems are great at performing specific tasks like recognizing images or translating text into different languages, they’re terrible at making generalizations. This makes it easy for them to accidentally learn incorrect information. And once they start learning incorrect data, they become worse at everything else.
So what does this mean for humanity? Well, Clarke believes that AI could pose a threat to our species. If AI gets smart enough to do something harmful, such as killing someone, it might decide to do just that without anyone realizing it. Or, if it learns that certain types of behavior are acceptable, it could begin acting inappropriately.
For instance, Clarke says that AI could easily learn to discriminate against women or minorities. Once it starts thinking that those groups are inferior, it could develop a bias against them. Then, it could use that same logic to justify discrimination against others.
This isn’t the only potential danger that Clarke sees lurking around the corner. He warns that AI could also cause mass destruction. Because of their ability to perform complex calculations quickly, AI systems are often used to simulate nuclear weapons. But Clarke thinks that AI could eventually build nuclear bombs without anyone knowing.
Of course, Clarke doesn’t think that AI systems could ever take over the world. Instead, he worries that they could destroy humanity by accident. So far, most of the research done on AI has focused on developing better ways to teach machines to perform specific tasks. But Clarke wants to focus on preventing AI from becoming intelligent in the first place.