Hunchback frogfish
| Hunchback frogfish | ||||||||||||
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Hunchback frogfish ( Melanocetus johnsonii ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Melanocetus johnsonii | ||||||||||||
| Günther , 1864 |
The hunchback Anglerfisch ( Melanocetus johnsonii , Syn. : M. krechi , M. rotundatus , M. ferox , M. cirrifer , M. megalodontis ) is a deep-sea fish from the genus of black anglers ( Melanocetus ) within the family of the deep-frogfishes (Melanocetidae ).
The zoologist August Brauer gave the name Melanocetus krechi in honor of Adalbert Krech .
description
The hunchback frogfish has very bright luminous organs on fishing- like appendages that are used as bait to attract prey . The rod is made to glow by special bacteria that live in symbiosis with the frogfish . The fish attract their prey consisting of small crabs , lantern fish and bristle mouths with their luminous organs . Their very elastic stomachs allow them to devour prey larger than themselves. For example, a 24 centimeter long viperfish was found in the stomach of a 6.6 centimeter long hunchbacked frogfish.
What is special is that the male of the hunchbacked frogfish does not grow larger than three centimeters, while the female reaches a length of 18 centimeters. In contrast to other males of deep-sea frogfish, those of Melanocetus johnsonii do not live parasitically attached to the female, but are free-swimming.
Fin formula : dorsal I / 13-17, anal 3–5, caudal 6
distribution and habitat
Humpback frogfish live in the temperate to tropical areas of all oceans at depths of 100 to 4500 meters. The larvae live pelagically in the upper 100 meters of the water column, where they develop into adults.
Web links
- Hunchback frogfish on Fishbase.org (English)