Red-lipped batfish

A fish that walks on the seabed

The red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini), also called the Galápagos batfish, is a fish of truly unusual morphology. Its flattened body, covered in small bumps, is dominated by lips of a vivid red — the species' most famous feature. It is a poor swimmer: instead of swimming, it uses its sturdy, leg-like pectoral, pelvic and anal fins to "walk" across the ocean floor. In adults, the dorsal fin is reduced to a single spine-like projection.

Habitat and range

It lives in the waters around the Galápagos Islands and along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru, on sandy and rocky bottoms at depths of about 3 to 76 metres. It is closely related to the rosy-lipped batfish, which lives near Cocos Island off Costa Rica.

Behaviour and diet

Like other anglerfish, it has a small mobile appendage on its head (the illicium) that, retracted into a cavity above the mouth, it uses as a lure to attract prey — small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates. It spends much of its time motionless on the bottom, camouflaged, moving in short steps when needed.

Did you know?

The function of the red lips is not fully understood: they may play a role in recognition between individuals or in courtship. The scientific name honours Charles Darwin, reflecting the fish's strong link to the Galápagos.

Conservation

The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is not considered threatened, but like all Galápagos species it depends on the health of that unique marine ecosystem.