FROGFISH

Frogfish are such masters of disguise that they're very difficult to see, even when they are photographed and singled out against a black background. Their bodies resemble flabby weed-encrusted masses or sponges and effectively blend into their surroundings. They are typically found upon rocky outcrops or large rocks at any depth. They are generally described as short, fat, lumpy and grotesque. Their pectoral fins have an elbow-like joint, which makes them appear to have stumpy legs and feet.

There are a dozen known examples of the species and they all lead a similarly sedentary life. They spend their time waiting patiently while wiggling a fishing-rod-and-worm-like appendage enticingly above their mouth to lure their prey. A frogfish is capable of swallowing other fish whole, and its victims can be almost as large as the frogfish itself. These creatures are so well camouflaged by their fleshy or filamentous appendages that divers rarely see them, even though they occur in most tropical seas.