The Lembeh Strait is unlike any other muck diving destination on earth. You may find frogfish in other locations but where else on the planet will you discover numerous species in one area? Right here – and when you are diving in Lembeh you just never know when another species will be identified. This is just one of the many factors which makes makes diving in this unique area so spectacular.
In case you are thinking that some species must be exceptionally rare or that you could dive for days and not see a single species, that is just not the case. In Lembeh it’s not just the diversity of marine life which attracts muck divers and underwater photographers from all around the world to Indonesia – it’s the abundance of weird and wonderful marine life too.
Frogfish in Lembeh hide in plain sight on the black sand slopes which makes them incredible underwater photography subjects – and easy to study. How much do you know about these intriguing critters?
Frogfish Facts
- When diving in Lembeh you have the chance to see the following frogfish species (often numerous individuals and more than one species in a single dive!): giant (Antennarius commerson), hairy (Antennarius striatus), warty and it’s clown frogfish juvenile form (Antennarius maculatus), painted (Antennarius pictus), hispid (Antennarius hispidus), freckled (Antennarius coccineus), ocellated (Antennarius ocellatus) as well as occasional sightings of the sargassum frogfish (Antennarius sargassum).
- Anglerfish? Frogfish are sometimes referred to as “anglerfish”. This is due to the rod and lure appendage which stems from their heads – this is common to all species. Did you know that each species can actually be identified by the shape of it’s lure because they all resemble different fish prey – from maggots through to flies.
- Luring Prey: Frogfish use their rods and lures (which looks like bait) to attract small fish which are searching for food. When the fish is close enough, they will pounce and swallow their prey whole.
- Camouflage Masters: Frogfish can be found in a huge array of colourations, from neutral browns, blacks, tan, cream and white through the greens, bright oranges, red purple yellow and pink. Frogfish can also change colour but unlike cephalopods that can change their colouration instantly they take time to blend into the surroundings. Frogfish are extremely confident in their ability to blend in and will often “hide in plain sight” meaning that they are not hiding under or behind anything, just on display but very well camouflaged.
- Propulsion: When threatened frogfish can and do swim. However, their preferred method of getting around is to jump along the bottom. In order to jump they suck in large amounts of water which they then expel through their gills giving them “jet propulsion”.
6. Frogfish Predators: Frogfish have very few predators, in fact, their biggest threat underwater is actually other, larger frogfish.
7. Frogfish Statistics: Just to show off how amazing these critters really are!
- Mature frogfish range in size from 5cm to 50cm depending on the species.
- Frogfish can swallow prey up to twice their own size.
- Females will produce between 40,000 – 180,000 eggs at one time during mating.
- The life expectancy of some species exceeds 20 years!
Did you know that Lembeh is a short distance by boat and car to the Bunaken Marine Park? Why not combine your stay in Lembeh with a stay at Two Fish Bunaken and enjoy world class reefs and muck diving in one trip?
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We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful Lembeh dive resort soon.