Smooth Anglerfish, Histiophryne bougainvilli (Valenciennes, 1837)

Scientific name: Histiophryne bougainvilli
Alternative name/s:
Bougainville's Anglerfish, Bougainville's Frogfish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    16/04/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Smooth Anglerfish with eggs Click to enlarge image
A Smooth Anglerfish with eggs at Nelson Bay, New South Wales, 2008. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Histiophryne
    Species
    bougainvilli
    Family
    Antennariidae
    Order
    Lophiiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 7 cm in length.

Introduction

The Smooth Anglerfish has a small lure on the snout. This unusual fish occurs on coral reefs and inshore rocky reefs in temperate waters.

Identification

Fishes in the genus Histiophryne can be separated from all other anglerfishes by having the second and third dorsal fin spines showing only as low protruberances on the top of the head. They also have the posterior-most margin of the dorsal and anal fins extending beyond the base of the caudal fin.

Smooth Anglerfish with eggs on a sponge
A Smooth Anglerfish walking with eggs
Smooth Anglerfish, Histiophryne bougainvilli

Habitat

The species occurs on coral reefs and inshore temperate rocky reefs.

Distribution

The species occurs from southern Queensland, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Life history cycle

As shown in some of the images, the species protects the developing eggs by wrapping the tail along the side of the body.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Pietsch, T.W. & D.B. Grobecker. 1987. Frogfishes of the World. Systematics, Zoogeography, and Behavioural Ecology. Stanford University Press. Pp. 420.