Antennarius Nummifer Or Maculatus?

[poopsydrew]

Hey all,

I recently purchased a frogfish at my lfs for a very good price. I have been trying to figure out an ID, without much success.

For some reason, I am thinking it could be Antennarius nummifer. But then again it could be pictus or maculatus. Im not great with ID's as is, yet alone a juvenille frogfish. Below are pics awhile after getting him.

I know Andywg will be by soon to check it out, please feel free to take a shot at an ID.

Hes quite the character, although havent gotten him to eat yet. We'll see how it goes and then I'll have to resort to some live foods until (or maybe a better word is IF) i get him on frozen foods.

Drew

 

[andywg]

I wouldn't have said A. nummifer as I cannot see the circular patch on the body towards the rear of the base of the dorsal fin.

I would err against A. maculatus as there is no real evidence of warts, and the second dorsal spine appears less clublike (in A. maculatus the second dorsal spine is small at the base and wider at the top).

A. pictus is a possibility, as too could A. hispidus (though the latter is less likely on these pics). A pictus has a membrne on the second dorsal spine that does not connect to the third spine IIRC.

Is it possible to put up a bigger version of any of the shots? Particularly the first and third. Also, a picture of the lure (either out or placed away) and of the second dorsal spine raised would help massively.

If you can do the above I will look at Reef Fishes when I get home and look at what the most likely IDs are.

 

[poopsydrew]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply.

I wouldn't have said A. nummifer as I cannot see the circular patch on the body towards the rear of the base of the dorsal fin.

Actually he does, the pic doesnt show it as that was shortly after I got him, since he has settled in, the spot has become much more apparent and green in color. I can try and get new pics up soon but below I tried to blow the ones up that you asked for:

Drew

Edit-Will try to get a pic of the "lure" later today, have only seen it out a couple times but will try.

 

[andywg]

ID tips for A. nummifer (contrasting to A. coccineus) from another forum are as below:

A. nummifer: the 2nd dorsal spine is nearly straight and not curved toward the back, there is no membranous connection of the dorsal and anal fins to the body.
A. coccineus: the 2nd dorsal spine is curved slightly toward the back, there is a membranous connection of the dorsal and anal fins to the body (not necessarily to the caudal fin as described in some texts).

That second larger pic appears to show a membranous connection to the body to me. If you look there is no length of body between the caudal end of the dorsal fin and the commencement of the dorsal part of the caudal fin. This would seem to rule out A. nummifer at this time.

Whatever species, he looks cool.

 

[poopsydrew]

ID tips for A. nummifer (contrasting to A. coccineus) from another forum are as below:

A. nummifer: the 2nd dorsal spine is nearly straight and not curved toward the back, there is no membranous connection of the dorsal and anal fins to the body.
A. coccineus: the 2nd dorsal spine is curved slightly toward the back, there is a membranous connection of the dorsal and anal fins to the body (not necessarily to the caudal fin as described in some texts).

That second larger pic appears to show a membranous connection to the body to me. If you look there is no length of body between the caudal end of the dorsal fin and the commencement of the dorsal part of the caudal fin. This would seem to rule out A. nummifer at this time.

Whatever species, he looks cool.

Thanks for claryifing that, I really am clueless to what species it is.
Andy what live foods do you feed yours (if any), as I am still having trouble with the frozen foods. I may have to resort to live foods in a week or so if he still hasnt taken frozen.

Drew