Family : Antennariidae (Frogfishes)
Order : Lophiiformes  (anglerfishes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Sargassumfish
Fish Name : Histrio histrio
Max size : 20.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 7251)
Environment : reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate : subtropical; 43°N - 24°S
Global Importance : fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Indian Ocean: tip of South Africa eastward to Indian and Sri Lanka, including the Red Sea, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius. Western Pacific: Hokkaido to tropical Australia (as far south as Perth in the west and Sydney in the east), including Taiwan, Philippines, Moluccas, southern Papua New Guinea, Guam, Tonga, New Caledonia and New Zealand; Mariana Islands in Micronesia (Ref. 1602). Occurrence in the eastern Pacific remains problematic. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, Uruguay. Eastern Atlantic: Azores and off West Africa; record from Vardø, northern Norway (Düben & Koren 1846) is based on a straggler taken northward by the North Atlantic and Norwegian currents.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 7-13. Color mottled green with numerous fleshy weed-like dermal appendages (Ref. 1602) blending with the floating Sargassum weed in which it is usually found. Illicium much shorter than 2nd dorsal spine. Esca globular with short filaments. Skin smooth, without dermal spinules; pectoral stalk free from body for most of its length (Ref. 26938).
Biology : Found near the surface, usually associated with floating objects (Ref. 26340) or Sargassum. Commonly blown into shore and bay waters during storms (Ref. 7251). Epipelagic (Ref. 58302). A solitary (Ref. 26340) and voracious predator (Ref. 5521). They feed on fishes and shrimps that seek refuge in the floating weeds (Ref. 48635). Oviparous. Eggs are bound in ribbon-like sheath or mass of gelatinous mucus called 'egg raft' or 'veil' (Ref. 6773, 48635)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : reports of ciguatera poisoning , Dammann, A.E.. 1969
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Pietsch, T.W. and D.B. Grobecker. 1987. (Ref. 6773)

India country information
Common Names : Gali-kendi, Gouthere-mas
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses