Rhycherus filamentosus

Tassled anglerfish

Rhycherus filamentosus, adult, Blairgowrie Pier, Photo: Paul Wembridge

Rhycherus filamentosus, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Graham Edgar

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Similar Species

Antennatus nummifer

Distribution

Temperate Australasia

Description

Easily identified by the numerous filaments scattered over the body surface and the prominent U-shaped lure that is attached to a long rod-like base. The species is moderately common on reefs but is rarely seen by divers because of its disruptive camouflage and preference for small crevices.

Information

Max Size: 23 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 12.1-21.3°C

Depth: 2-60m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.

Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Infrequent (2.5% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.

Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney