Marble-Mouthed Frogfish

Lophiocharon lithinostomus

Lophiocharon is a genus of frogfishes native to the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. L. lithinostomus is very uncommon and found only occasionally in the Western Pacific. Inhabits coastal reefs in 1-10 m and resembles algal-covered rock.
Characterized by mottled green color; membrane between each pair of caudal fin rays with row of 2-4 dark-edged, large white spots; unbranched pelvic rays; illicium almost twice as long as second dorsal spines, 21.6-36.4 % SL; with dermal spinules covering illicium; greatly reduced esca; close-set, bifurcate dermal spinules covering skin; no caudal peduncle.
Marbled-mouth Frogfish - Lophiocharon lithinostomus brooding eggs This was a rare occasion to find this Marbled-mouth Frogfish - Lophiocharon lithinostomus brooding its eggs. Not sure if its the Male or the Female that do this. They attached the eggs to the left side of its body, not sure for how long and from time to time, will aerate the eggs by swaying side to side. This species of Frogfish is very well camouflaged with their colouration and the appendages they have on their body. Check out the video footage of this Frogfish brooding its eggs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBB0jfb4wF4 Frogfish,Geotagged,Lophiocharon lithinostomus,Marble-Mouthed Frogfish,Marbled-mouth Frogfish,Philippines,Spring,cebu,malapascua

Appearance

Max length 9.1 cm
Long Illicium (rod), nearly no esca (lure, bait). Illicium covered with dermal spinules. Rows of 2 to 4 nearly transparent ocelli (eye spots) on the membrane between the spines of the caudal fin. Even the inside of the mouth is mottled. Large nostrils.
Marble-Mouthed Frogfish - Lophiocharon lithinostomus Fish,Frogfish,Lophiocharon lithinostomus,Mabul,Malaysia,Marble-Mouthed Frogfish,Sabah

Naming

Jordan and Richardson, 1908
Eyeing his dinner This Marble-Mouth Frogfish - Lophiocharon lithinostomus was using its lure to hunt the small fish swimming in front of him. They may flick the lure just like it is fishing and when the small fish comes close enough, they will swallow the fish full. They are capable of swallowing a prey that is nearly the same size as them. Cebu,Frogfish,Geotagged,Lophiocharon lithinostomus,Malapascua,Marble-Mouthed Frogfish,Philippines,Spring

Distribution

Western Central Pacific: Sulu Sea of Indonesia and Philippines.

Status

Not evaluated

Habitat

Inhabits coastal reefs in 1-10 m, resembles algal-covered rock

Reproduction

Oviparous

Migration

Non-migratory

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Lophiocharon+lithinostomus#http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php%3Fgenusname%3DLophiocharon%26speciesname%3Dlithinostomus
http://www.frogfish.ch/species-arten/Lophiocharon-lithinostomus.html
http://eol.org/pages/215423/details#relevance_to_humans_and_ecosystems

Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderLophiiformes
FamilyAntennariidae
GenusLophiocharon
SpeciesLophiocharon lithinostomus
Photographed in
Malaysia
Philippines