Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz

the myth of giant sea snakes. Photo João Monteiro. The Scalloped ribbon fish Zu cristatus (Family
Trachipteridae) also lives in the open sea. It looks like a short Oar fish and grows to 1 m length. The singular
photo of a juvenile of this species (insert) was taken by Robert Minderlein at the Azores.
Frogfishes (Antennariidae)
Coin-bearing frog fish (Antennarius nummifer)
Up to 9 cm long. Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores. 10 – 300 m depth.
Frogfish are difficult to detect. The animals lie motionless on rocky bottom and look rather like a sponge. The
pectoral fins are modified into strong arms, used to cling to the bottom and also to crawl over the bottom.
With a small fishing rod – the modified first ray of the dorsal fin – and a movable piece of skin on its tip, the
frog fish entices small fish and shrimps in front of its mouth. When the prey is close enough, the frog fish
sucks it in by suddenly opening its very large mouth. This movement is so fast that it cannot be seen by the
human eye. Photos Peter Wirtz.
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Clingfishes (Gobiesocidae)
Small-headed clingfish (Apletodon dentatus)
Up to 4 cm long. Canary Islands. 2 – ? m depth.
The comparatively short head is typical for the species, which is quite variable in colour. It can, for instance,
also be brightly yellow. Photo top right Arturo Telle.
Purple clingfish (Mirbelia candolii)