Aug. 26th, 2022

prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
hairy frogfish - n., a variable-colored frogfish (Antennarius striatus) found worldwide in tropical oceans.


Also called striated frogfish -- they may or may not be covered in "hair" like these guys:

two hairy frogfish blending in
Thanks, WikiMedia!

When not hairy, they are stripe-y, and can change colors (over a period of a couple weeks) to blend in with the local habitat. All frogfish (so called because of their wide froglike mouths) are anglerfish, specifically a family (Antennariidae) that are benthic bottom-dwelling rather than abyssal.


And that wraps it up for the week of fish with redonkulous names. That said, here's a bonus unusual fish name that I refuse to categorize as redonkulous just because it's a long Hawaiian word:


humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-AH-ah) - n., either of two species of reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus and R. rectangulus) of the coral reefs of Hawaii.


Also called rectangular triggerfish, wedgetail triggerfish, and humuhumu for short. The name means "triggerfish with a snout that is blunt and pig-like." I actually knew this word before this week thanks to an episode of Octonauts. Rather than a picture, I leave you with this song that mentions them in the chorus:



---L.

July 2025

S M T W T F S
   123 45
67 8910 1112
13 14 15 16 17 1819
20 21 22 23 242526
27 28293031  

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 29th, 2025 07:31 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios