Frogfish is one of the most bizarre fish in the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is home to many bizarre and beautiful creatures. The tiny frogfish is one of the most unusual. A member of the angler fish, they camouflage themselves and move slowly along the ocean bottom to ambush unsuspecting prey.Show more

The frogfish can change color and it has a textured body with spines and appendages that aid in disguise. Despite their slow movement, they can strike extremely rapidly, attacking in as little as 6 milliseconds.

Frogfish mimic coral or stones to lure prey closer. They are also commonly found with algae growing on their skin, which further assists with camouflage and also helps lure fish looking for algae to eat. Some also mimic sea urchins or sponges.

Frogfish use their pectoral and pelvic fins to walk along the seabed. Amazingly, they can also move well with water jet propulsion. They gulp water and force it out through their gills to push them along. Frogfish are also able to use their fins like legs and "climb" through weeds or over obstacles.

A frogfish is a surprisingly capable predator, able to expand their stomachs to swallow prey almost twice their size. They also have an appendage that can be held out over their mouth and moved in a manner that resembles a small, swimming fish. When a fish comes close, looking for a meal, the frogfish lunges and inhales it.

These scuba divers in Papua New Guinea have embarked on an early morning dive along a muddy and sandy bottom. They were thrilled to get a close look at this elusive creature in its natural habitat.