The species was named after Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist who visited the Galapagos Islands during his voyage on HMS Beagle. Known as a weird-looking fish, the red-lipped batfish thrives in the marine environment of the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Endemic to the islands, this is a less known-about aquatic species. Being an angler fish, the Red-Lipped Batfish will display a fleshy growth on its head known as an illicium. It uses this to attract prey, including small crustaceans like shrimps, mollusks, and little fish.
Red-lipped batfish are typically found at depths of about 30 to 60 feet, but can be found in deeper waters up to 400 feet. They prefer to hang out in sandy or rocky bottoms that help them blend into the sea floor. Red Lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) is a unique and weird species of fish found in the waters around the Galapagos Islands and off the coast of Peru. Known for its distinctive appearance and behavior, Red Lipped Batfish has captured the attention of scientists and marine enthusiasts alike. Here are some key facts about this fascinating creature: Appearance.
Red lipped batfish facts. The Voyage of the Beagle. This book by Charles Darwin mentions several endemic species of the Galápagos Islands, which were studied by him during the second survey expedition of HMS Beagle between 1831 and 1836. Whether you are enjoying a Galápagos diving cruise, or having fun on a snorkeling excursion on a naturalist Galápagos cruise, you can spot the Batfish by looking out for its grey back.
Are red-lipped batfish harmful?
The red-lipped batfish is a unique fish found near the Galapagos Islands. It lives at depths of 10 to 249 feet. The bright reddish lips distinguish it from other batfish. Despite its weird look, it is harmless.
The red-lipped batfish is related to the anglerfish. It reaches lengths of 26 cm. Its notable features include striking red lips, rostrum-like appendages, sail-like dorsal fins, and four leg-like fins that allow it to walk on the seafloor.
It inhabits waters near reef edges around the Galapagos Islands, up to 120 meters deep. True to its name, it has bright red lips. Its body is light brown with a white stomach. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs, reaching 25 cm in length.
The illicium on its head serves to lure prey. When mature, the dorsal fin resembles a spine protruding from its head. The red lips may help with species recognition during spawning. It faces no direct threats, but rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching may alter its habitat and food source.
How big can the red-lipped batfish get?
The red-lipped batfish is a unique species found near the Galapagos Islands and Peru living in depths from 10 to 249 feet. The bright red lips distinguish them from other batfish and may attract mates.
Despite their weird look, red-lipped batfish are harmless to humans. They have compact bodies and fins adapted for walking, not swimming. An illicium on the head acts like a fishing lure to attract prey.
The name comes from Charles Darwin. The habitat is deep waters around the Galapagos Islands and Cocos Island. They grow to about 40 cm long.
Divers may see this fish at depths greater than 100 feet. The light brown body has dark brown markings and shagreen-like scales. The face is dark red. The most eye-catching feature is the bright red lips.
Can red-lipped batfish swim?
The red-lipped batfish is found around the Galapagos Islands and off Peru. It has bright red lips to attract mates. Its pectoral fins let it “walk” on the sea floor. The red color may help identify others of its species. It uses an appendage on its head to lure prey when it has difficulty swimming. The red lips resemble human lips enhanced with lipstick. Finding food and mates are challenges it meets via ambush hunting and visual courtship cues.
The batfish fins allow walking but not fast swimming. Still, it catches food with a bioluminescent lure. Red coloration attracts mates via visual recognition. It alternates limb-like pectoral and pelvic fins to walk on the sandy or rocky sea floor. Reaching 8 inches long, it has a stocky rough-scaled body with sail-like dorsal fins. It lives at depths of 10 to 250 feet near the Galapagos and Peru.
Despite an unusual appearance, the red-lipped batfish is harmless. Relatives include the rosy-lipped batfish of Cocos Island. All batfish have compact bodies and are classed taxonomically as either Ephippidae or Ogcocephalidae. The red-lipped batfish’s weird look attracts attention, but it fills an ecological niche as do all species, no matter how strange.