Psychedelic Fish

Facta about the Psychedelic Fish it was a type of frogfish discovered in Indonesia in 2008 by divers. This Psychedelic Fish species is not the hallucinogenic fish. That species, scientific name sarpa salpa, can cause hallucinations when consumed.

The Psychedelic Fish is a member of the frog fish family. The Psychedelic Fish is part of the antennariid genus, Histiophryne. This genus received its name for the leg-like fins on the side of its body. Its full scientific name is Histiophryne psychedelica, or psychedelic frog fish. It is in the same genus as frog fish but has been placed in its own species family. It is part of the lophiiformes order, which it shares with angler fish.
The species is also called the Maluku frogfish.

This Psychedelic Fish species has an orange body with white stripes radiating out from its eyes. The stripes form a set of swirling, concentric stripes. The coloring is thought to help it blend in with the surrounding coral. The eyes are a fluorescent blue. Its color does not change with the habitat, unlike some frog fish species. The coloring pattern / stripe pattern is unique to each individual.
Its forward facing eyes on a flattened face is unusual among fish and unique, to date, among frog fish. That does not exclude the possibility of related frog fish in the Indonesian coral triangle being found that also share this trait.
This Psychedelic Fish species lacks the fleshy lure growing from the forehead many of its relatives have.

The Psychedelic Fish species has thick folds of skin to protect it from sharp coral. The Psychedelic Fish has a broad mouth and broad, flat face. The mouth of the Psychedelic Fish is smaller than that of other frog fish. The Psychedelic Fish has fleshy cheeks. It can expand its head and extend the mouth forward.
Its skin is similar to that of other frog fish, and may be covered in protective mucus. It has no scales. The Psychedelic Fish is fist-sized, but not much is known as to whether the species changes colors as it matures. The largest specimens have been six inches long.

This Psychedelic Fish species bounces along the bottom of the sea floor in its search for food. The Psychedelic Fish pushes itself off the sea bed with its pelvic or pectoral fins. It further powers its jump by expelling water from tiny gill openings. The bouncing motion is made dream like by its off centered tail.
Other frog fish walk along the bottom of the sea floor using their legs/fins, but the psychedelic fish is unique in its bouncing motion.
This Psychedelic Fish is a carnivore. The Psychedelic Fish catches prey by hiding in coral crevices and then catching prey. Individuals of this species have been seen hiding among coral debris and among sponges.

This Psychedelic Fish species was found off Ambon Island. It is not part of the aquarium trade as of this writing. Its full range and status with the IUCN are not yet known, but it may be endangered due to its limited range and already polluted habitat.
The Psychedelic Fish is found in tropical waters near surface waters around Bali.

The Psychedelic Fish is one of the most recently identified fish species in the world, formally discovered in 2008. A specimen had been collected in 1988, but the species was mislabeled and thus remained unidentified by science. Ted Pietsch published the paper introducing this species to the world. The journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists contained the report with the DNA analysis showing that this was indeed a new species.