Hairy Frogfish Esca Extended | Antennarius striatus

This is a large male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) with his esca, or lure, extended to entice prey. The esca is situated at the end of a long rod called the illicium, which is the fish’s front-most dorsal fin. The white hair-like protrusions of the fish’s body are small skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), clearly visible at 100% magnification. This photograph was taken five days prior to this fish spawning with a smaller female.

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Filename: antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfish-esca-japan-202009-0204.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 8256x5504 / 130.1MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish; Frogfish; Animalia; Chordata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Lophiiformes; Antennariidae; Antennarius striatus; Hairy Frogfish; Striated Frogfish; Striped Frogfish; Crustacean; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Malacostraca; Amphipoda; Caprellidae; Skeleton Shrimp; Parasite; Pacific; Japan; Kumamoto Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

This is a large male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) with his esca, or lure, extended to entice prey. The esca is situated at the end of a long rod called the illicium, which is the fish’s front-most dorsal fin. The white hair-like protrusions of the fish’s body are small skeleton shrimp (Caprellidae), clearly visible at 100% magnification. This photograph was taken five days prior to this fish spawning with a smaller female.