Rafi Amar, Israel
Info
Echinophryne crassispina McCulloch & Waite, 1918
Echinophryne crassispina is a very small frogfish with a short body densely covered with tiny little spines or thorns, a short tail and an illicium or "fishing rod" without a distinctive bait.
The colour of the "spiny" frogfish varies from yellowish, creamy to orange to reddish brown, or even slate grey, with lighter and darker markings on the face (around the eyes) illicium, in front of the soft dorsal fin, at the pectoral fin base and tail base.
even on shallow rocky reefs at 1-20 m depth, often under rocks, protrusions and around jetties.
The dorsal fin consists of four parts, a short illicium, two separate, skin-covered spines and a long, soft-ribbed fin separated from the caudal fin.
Echinophryne crassispina is a benthic species that occurs on coastal rocky reefs, but is not often seen as the fish lives under rocks and ledges.
The head has a whitish, scabby pattern, the anal and caudal fins have a striking dark brown band and dark edge bands.
Etymology: The word "Echinophryne" comes from the Greek "echinos", which means "sea urchin" or "hedgehog", and "phryne" means toad (frogfish).
Various frogfishes are collected for sale in the aquarium, including Echinophryne crassispina, but beginners in seawater aquaristics should avoid such animals.
Echinophryne crassispina is a very small frogfish with a short body densely covered with tiny little spines or thorns, a short tail and an illicium or "fishing rod" without a distinctive bait.
The colour of the "spiny" frogfish varies from yellowish, creamy to orange to reddish brown, or even slate grey, with lighter and darker markings on the face (around the eyes) illicium, in front of the soft dorsal fin, at the pectoral fin base and tail base.
even on shallow rocky reefs at 1-20 m depth, often under rocks, protrusions and around jetties.
The dorsal fin consists of four parts, a short illicium, two separate, skin-covered spines and a long, soft-ribbed fin separated from the caudal fin.
Echinophryne crassispina is a benthic species that occurs on coastal rocky reefs, but is not often seen as the fish lives under rocks and ledges.
The head has a whitish, scabby pattern, the anal and caudal fins have a striking dark brown band and dark edge bands.
Etymology: The word "Echinophryne" comes from the Greek "echinos", which means "sea urchin" or "hedgehog", and "phryne" means toad (frogfish).
Various frogfishes are collected for sale in the aquarium, including Echinophryne crassispina, but beginners in seawater aquaristics should avoid such animals.
