Fish Active day and night

Tasselled Anglerfish

Rhycherus filamentosus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The ultimate master of disguise, the Tasselled Anglerfish 'walks' along the Australian seafloor using its fins like legs. With a body covered in leafy filaments and a built-in fishing lure, it is one of the most fascinating predators you can find in coastal reefs.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Typically 15-23 cm (6-9 inches) in length

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Colors

Highly variable mottled patterns of tan, reddish-brown, orange, and white to mimic surrounding sponges and algae; no significant sexual dimorphism in color

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Key Features

Body covered in long, branched skin filaments or 'tassels'
First dorsal spine modified into a lure (illicium) with a fleshy, worm-like tip (esca)
Thick, limb-like pectoral and pelvic fins used for walking
Stocky, compressed body with a large, upward-pointing mouth

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours 24 hours, but luring behavior is most visible during daylight

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Season Year-round

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Diet A carnivorous ambush predator eating small fish, shrimp, and other crustaceans attracted by its rhythmic luring motion.

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Habitat Coastal rocky reefs, sponge gardens, seagrass meadows, and pier pylons in temperate waters.

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Where Does the Tasselled Anglerfish Live?

Native to the cool temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere, the Tasselled Anglerfish is an endemic Australian treasure. It is primarily found along the southern coastline, with its core range stretching from the waters of New South Wales and Victoria, around the entirety of Tasmania, and westward to the southern reaches of Western Australia. These fish are most frequently encountered in sheltered bays and shallow reef systems where sponge growth is prolific.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

450K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Tasselled Anglerfish is a master of patience and one of the most effective ambush predators in the ocean. Rather than swimming through the water column, it spends most of its time motionless on the seabed, perfectly blending into rocky reefs and sponge gardens. It uses its highly adapted pectoral and pelvic fins to 'walk' across the substrate with a slow, deliberate gait that avoids alerting potential prey or predators.

When hunting, the anglerfish employs a sophisticated biological fishing rod. It slowly waves its illicium (a modified dorsal spine) to dance the worm-like lure just above its mouth. When a curious fish or crustacean approaches the lure, the anglerfish expands its oral cavity with incredible speed, creating a vacuum that sucks the prey inside in as little as six milliseconds. This species is generally solitary and rarely interacts with humans unless encountered by divers, to whom they usually remain indifferent due to their reliance on camouflage.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Tasselled Anglerfish requires an underwater camera setup, such as a waterproof action camera or a specialized reef-cam housing. Because these fish are sedentary and prefer high-structure environments, the best placement for your camera is near the base of pier pylons or along the edges of rocky crevices at depths of 3 to 10 meters. Ensure the camera is weighted or mounted securely to prevent movement from tidal surges, which can trigger false motion alerts.

For the best results, position the camera at a 'fish-eye' level, roughly 10-15 centimeters above the seabed. This low-angle perspective captures the intricate 'walking' motion of their fins and the delicate movement of their tassels in the current. Since they rely on camouflage, use a high-resolution setting (4K if possible) to distinguish the fish from the surrounding sponges and algae; otherwise, they may simply look like a lump of reef on low-quality footage.

While you shouldn't bait the anglerfish directly, placing your camera near a natural congregation of small shrimp or baitfish will increase your chances of witnessing a strike. If your camera has a time-lapse mode, set it to take a photo every 30 seconds; because these fish move so slowly, a standard motion sensor may not always trigger. During the night, use a diffused red light filter to avoid startling the fish while still illuminating the incredible textures of its skin filaments.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Tasselled Anglerfish.

Striped Anglerfish

Lacks the dense leafy tassels and instead features bold, dark horizontal or radiating stripes.

Smooth Anglerfish

Has a much smoother skin texture without the long branching filaments, often appearing more 'leathery'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tasselled Anglerfish are opportunistic predators active both day and night. However, they are most easily spotted by observers during the day when their unique luring behavior and 'walking' movements are visible against the reef.

You cannot easily bait an anglerfish, but you can place your camera in areas they frequent, such as under public jetties or near sponge-covered rocks. They are naturally attracted to areas with high populations of small glass shrimp and gobies.

They eat a variety of small reef inhabitants, including small fish and crustaceans. They use a fleshy lure on their head to trick prey into thinking a worm is nearby before striking with lightning speed.

Yes, for those living near the southern Australian coast, they are surprisingly common under suburban piers and jetties, though their incredible camouflage makes them very difficult to see without a trained eye.

The Tasselled Anglerfish is easily distinguished by the dense, branched skin filaments (tassels) covering its entire body, whereas the Striped Anglerfish has a smoother appearance with distinct dark lines or 'zebra' stripes.

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