The red-lipped batfish o Ogcocepphalus darwini It belongs to the Ogcocephalidae family. This fish is endemic to the waters around the Galapagos Islands, Isla del Coco, and Costa Rica. These are bottom dwellers that generally occupy depths in the 100-foot range.

The red-lipped batfish is definitely one of the strangest looking marine specimens. His body is very compressed horizontally. Despite their name, these batfish only bear a vague resemblance to the animal form for which they are named. Obviously, this particular species has red lips.

This species has two distinctive evolutionary traits in common with another group of strange-looking bottom-dwelling fish known as monkfish or toadfish. They are both poor swimmers and rely heavily on modified fin structures to walk on the ocean floor. They both have dorsal fins that have adapted to the spine as appendages on the head that are used to numb their prey. These unique creatures actually go fishing for their dinners. This is accomplished through the use of an appendix known as the ilicium. Illiciums are a thin, rope-like extension that can be projected or thrown in front of their bodies in the same way that a fisherman casts his fishing line. They have a second evolutionary adaptation known as esca. Esca are thicker membranes at the tip of the ilicium that have the same function as placing a lure on the end of a fishing line. Unlike the frogfish, the batfish have an elongated snout that protrudes from their fishing appendages and serves to protect them from damage. The color of these two fish, while not at all alike, serves as a natural means of camouflage to aid them in catching prey. This batfish is brown with spikes on the upper body and blends in quite well with the ocean floor.

Due to their predatory nature, batfish are not considered good community tank dwellers. They are actually quite tame by nature. These are relatively small fish. They only grow 3.5 to 5 inches when they are adults. If you want to get one, make sure your tankmates aren’t small enough to be lured in and eaten. These fish inhabit deeper waters in their natural environment. They will require an aquarium in low light.

This is a carnivorous creature. In the wild, their diet consists mainly of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Live food may be required to help them better acclimate to a captive environment. Since this species is rarely kept in home aquariums, they are not known to breed in captivity.