Giant Frogfish

Commerson's frogfish grows up to 38 cm (15 in) in total length. Like other members of its family, it has a globular, extensible body. Its soft skin is covered with small dermal spinules and partially covered with a few small, wartlike protuberances, some variably shaped, scab-like blotches, and a few, small eye spots (ocelli) reminiscent of the holes in sponges. Its large mouth is prognathous, allowing it to consume prey as large as itself. Its coloration is extremely variable, as this species tends to match its environment.

Frogfish can change their coloration in a few weeks, but the dominant coloration goes from grey to black, passing through a whole range of related hues, such as cream, pink, yellow, red, and brown, and also usually with circular eye spots or blotches that are darker than the background.

Antennarius commerson lives in the tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the eastern coasts of the Pacific Ocean. It is found in lagoons and sheltered rocky and coral reefs. It is usually associated with big sponges, on underwater ropes, on jetty pillars, or any structures down to 70 m (230 ft) deep, with an average occurrence at 20 m (66 ft) deep.

As all frogfishes, A. commerson is a voracious carnivore that attacks any small animals that pass within range, mainly other fish, but sometimes even congeners. Commerson's frogfish has a benthic and solitary lifestyle. They gather during the mating period, but do not tolerate each other anymore after the act of fertilization. The female can kill or eat the male if he stays close. It uses a small tuft of flattened appendage as a fishing lure.