Animal Species:Eastern Frogfish, Batrachomoeus dubius (White, 1790)
The Eastern Frogfish has a large mouth, fleshy lips and a tasseled 'beard'. The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Queensland to central New South Wales.
Standard Common Name
Blotched Toadfish, Brown Frogfish, Dubious Frogfish.
The Eastern Frogfish has a large mouth, fleshy lips and a tasseled 'beard'. It has a large head with raised eyes and a wide, slightly concave interorbital region. The pectoral fins are large. The three short first dorsal fin spines are reported to be venomous. There is a pair of diverging spines on the upper edge of the operculum.
Adult colour varies from a mottled brown to pale grey or a deep blue-grey. Juveniles are pale with broad dark bands.
The Eastern Frogfish grows to 30 cm in length.
It is an endemic species that occurs from southern Queensland to central New South Wales. It is relatively common in Sydney Harbour.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
It is known from very shallow waters down to at least 150 m in depth. It has been observed sheltering in holes on rocky reefs, kelp beds and silty areas.
Other behaviours and adaptations
When captured, the Eastern Frogfish is capable of making a croaking sound.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Tags fishes, ichthyology, Eastern Frogfish, Batrachomoeus dubius, Batrachoididae, large mouth, tasseled 'beard', fleshy lips, endemic to Australia, Blotched Toadfish, Brown Frogfish, Dubious Frogfish, raised eyes, mottled brown, pale grey, deep blue-grey, 10 cm - 30 cm, Sydney Harbour, marine,