Find a Fish
Undescribed Anglerfish
An undescribed Anglerfish at a depth of 12 m, Bare Island, Sydney, New South Wales, August 2005. Photo © R. Harcourt. View larger image.
An undescribed Anglerfish at a depth of 6 m Indian Point, Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, 2005. Photo © J. Coombs. View larger image.
An undescribed Anglerfish photographed in natural light at South Head, Sydney Harbour, 2005. Photo © N. Todd. View larger image.
An undescribed Anglerfish caught at a depth of 14 m, Bare Island, Sydney, New South Wales, October 2005. Photo © R. Harcourt. View larger image. View large image of head.
This undescribed species of anglerfish has bumpy skin that resembles the sponges among which it is often found. This camouflage is enhanced by the presence of smooth, dark spots on the body of the fish that resemble the pores on the surface of a sponge.
Individuals of this unusual fish grow to at least 7.5 cm in standard length.
The species is currently only known from the Sydney region of New South Wales.
The fish was brought to the attention of the Australian Museum when the upper image, taken by Dr Rob Harcourt was sent for identification. Museum staff could not identify the fish, so forwarded the image to anglerfish expert Dr Ted Pietsch who stated that the fish may be a new genus. Dr Pietsch requested that the fish be collected and sent to him for examination. Dr Harcourt and dive buddies R. Fea and J. Coombs, applied for and were granted a DPI Fisheries permit to collect specimens. After a long search one specimen was collected. Since then, the team have dived many times without managing to find another fish.
Dr Pietsch needs more specimens before he can formally name this new fish. If you see an anglerfish that looks like the fish in the images, please take care to record the locality in detail and contact Mark McGrouther.
This fish has been observed in the following locations:
- Indian Point, Botany Bay - on the reef that extends towards Bare Island from the headland between Little Congwong Beach and Henry's Head. Approximate depth 6 m.
- Bare Island Sponge Gardens, Botany Bay - on the right side of the Island towards the deep wall. Approximate depth 14 m.
- South Head, Sydney Harbour - The site is accessed by walking from Camp Cove to Lady Bay Beach, then snorkeling around the headland. Approximate depth 10 m.
Related links
- View the Anglerfishes list
- View the family Antennariidae list
Further reading
- Pietsch, T.W. & D.B. Grobecker. 1987. Frogfishes of the World. Systematics, Zoogeography, and Behavioural Ecology. Stanford University Press. Pp. 420.
