Antennarius pictus, (Shaw, 1794)
The painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus), or spotted frogfish, black angler or painted anglerfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
The painted frogfish has a maximum published total length of 30 cm (12 in). Like other members of its family, it has a globulous, extensible body, with soft skin is covered with small dermal spinules. Its skin is covered partially with few, small, wart-like protuberances, some variably shaped, scab-like blotches and many small eye spots (ocelli) which look like sponges holes. Its large prognathous mouth allows it to consume prey its same size.
The painted frogfish has a wide distribution in the tropical and subtropical waters from the Indo-Pacific area, along the eastern African coast between the Gulf of Aqaba south to the Aliwal Shoal off South Africa, east to Hawaii and the Society Islands, north to Jeju Island in Korea and the Ryukyu Islands and south to Western Australia's Houtman Abrolhos and Lord Howe Island. It is found on sheltered rocky and coral reefs, and adults are usually associated with sponges down to 75 m (246 ft) deep, with an average occurrence at 15 m (49 ft).
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