Painted frogfish
Antennarius pictus
Sighting evidence at TK (Tanjung Kubur), Lembeh Strait
Photo: Marine Explorer (Dr John Turnbull) · CC BY-NC-SA
The painted frogfish occurs at TK in at least 5 colour morphs including white, black, orange, yellow, and mottled, each blending with different sponge colonies on the rubble. It lures prey with an esca (bait) mimicking a small worm, then strikes in 6 milliseconds — too fast to see without high-speed video. A single individual occupies the same sponge for weeks, making guided return visits productive for photographers wanting natural-light shots.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Painted frogfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.