Glauert's Anglerfish, Allenichthys glauerti (Whitley 1944)


Other Names: Glauerts Anglerfish, Glauert's Frogfish

Glauert's Anglerfish, Allenichthys glauerti, in Western Australia, January 2018. Source: Daniel Barker / FishBase. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:

A rare spiny anglerfish with a very short second dorsal-fin spine and no tail base. Glauert's Anglerfish varies in colour from yellow to reddish-brown or grey, with reddish patches and dark spots or rings scattered on the body. 


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Thmopson, V.J. 2020, Allenichthys glauerti in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2843

Glauert's Anglerfish, Allenichthys glauerti (Whitley 1944)

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to temperate waters of southern and western Australia from Kangaroo Island (South Australia) to off the Dampier Archipelago (Western Australia), at depths to 183 m. 

Features

Dorsal fin I + I + I, 15–16; Anal fin 8; Pectoral fin 9-11; Pelvic fin 5; Caudal fin 9.

Body short, deep, slightly compressed, caudal peduncle absent; head large, eyes small, mouth large, upturned, teeth numerous, short, recurved; gill opening a small pore below and behind the pectoral-fin base. Illicium arising on snout tip, esca a single stout appendage entirely covered with fine hair-like filaments.

Second and third dorsal-fin spines free, not hidden beneath skin of head; second spine above eye, very short, recurved, constricted at tip, covered with thick skin, but not connected to head by membrane, free from third spine, not connected to soft dorsal fin by skin; third dorsal-fin spine on nape, connected posteriorly along full length to body by thick membrane. Soft dorsal fin base elongate, anal fin small, hind margin of dorsal and anal fins connected to the outermost caudal-fin rays; caudal fin rounded, rays branched, no translucent ocelli between rays; pectoral fins prominent, arm-like; pelvic fins jugular.

Skin densely covered in tiny bifurcated spinules.

Size

To 19 cm.

Colour

Head and body variable in colour and scattered with dark, roughly circular spots or rings. Colour ranges from light tan, pale yellow, pinkish-brown, yellow-brown to brown, paler below; top of head and along part of back before soft dorsal-fin dark-brown, outer edge of all fins dark brown.

Feeding

Anglerfishes are ambush predators. The first dorsal spine is modified into a lure with a rod (the illicium) and lure (the esca), at the tip. The lure is moved to attract prey that are rapidly sucked into huge mouth.

Biology

The sexes are separate and fertilization is external.

Fisheries

Of no interest to fisheries, aquaculture or the aquarium industry, although the species has been taken as bycatch in commercial trawls.

Conservation

Not evaluated.

Remarks

Known from few specimens, most trawled off southern and southwestern Australia.

Etymology

The genus Allenichthys is named for Dr Gerald. R. Allen in recognition of his many contributions to tropical ichthyology. The species is named for members of the Glauert family who collected the type specimens.

Species Citation

Echinophryne glauerti Whitley, 1944, Aust. Zool. 10(3): 272. Type locality: Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia.

Author

Bray, D.J. & Thmopson, V.J. 2020

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Glauert's Anglerfish, Allenichthys glauerti (Whitley 1944)

References


Arnold, R.J. & Pietsch, T.W. 2012. Evolutionary history of frogfishes (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennariidae): A molecular approach. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62: 117-129

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Crawford House Press, Bathurst 437 pp.

May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986.  Field guide to trawl fish from temperate waters of Australia. CSIRO, Hobart: 492 pp.

Pietsch, T.W. 1984. The genera of frogfishes (family Antennariidae). Copeia 1984(1): 27-44 fig. 1

Pietsch, T.W. 1994. Family Antennariidae. pp. 285-297 figs 254-264 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs

Pietsch, T.W. 2008. Antennariidae. pp. 364-374 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Pietsch, T.W. & Grobecker, D.B. 1987. Frogfishes of the World: Systematics, Zoogeography, and Behavioral Ecology. Palo Alto : Stanford University Press 420 pp.

Scott, T.D., Glover, C.J.M. & Southcott, R.V. 1974. The Marine and Freshwater Fishes of South Australia. Adelaide : Government Printer 392 pp. figs. 

Whitley, G.P. 1944. New sharks and fishes from Western Australia. The Australian Zoologist 10(3): 252-273 figs 1-6 See ref at BHL

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37210004

Depth:to 185 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:19 cm

Native:Endemic

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map