Meet our October Fish of the Month, the Red-lipped Batfish, Ogcocephalus darwini!
Survey Regions: Red-lipped Batfish are found in the Galapagos Islands, part of REEF's Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) survey region. Originally thought to be endemic to the Galapagos, they have also been recorded south off the coast of Peru. Click here to view a sightings report for this species.
Size: They grow to an average of 9 inches, and can reach up to 15 inches long.
Identifying Features: Red-lipped Batfish have a light brown to gray body, with a dark unicorn-like horn protruding from the front of their head and characteristic bright red lips that give them their name.
Fun Facts: Although they are capable of swimming, Red-lipped Batfish often treat their modified pectoral and pelvic fins as "legs" and move by walking and perching on the seabed in search of food. They also have a structure on their head called an illicium, which is thought to be used to attract prey. They eat mainly small fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Vlad Karpinsky, www.flickr.com/zlatkarp, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED.