Strange Animals: The Red Lipped Batfish

Today, I took the decision to start a new series of posts, totally different to what I have been posting up until now. Purpose of the series is to introduce you guys to some of the world's most weird and bizarre animals. 

Animals that you will hardly believe they actually exist. Everyday I will be making one of these posts so make sure to follow me if you enjoy the post down below.. So, without further ado I present you the...

The Red-lipped Batfish

The red-lipped batfish (Ogcocepphalus darwini) is an odd looking fish found in the Galapagos Islands. The photo speaks for itself and it's no wonder why this bizarre creature is called this way! But the bright red lips is just the beginning, the creature gets even weirder!

Despite being a fish, this little guy is a really, really bad swimmer! It swims very clumsily and can only do so for small distances. Actually,  its pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins are modified in such a way that the red lipped fish can use them to walk and sit on the ocean floor!

But that's not all!  Like most other anglerfish, once it reaches adulthood, the dorsal fin becomes a single spine-like projection to help them lure prey. This is a luminescent organ called the esca (commonly called "fishing rod"). The organ has been hypothesized to serve the obvious purpose of luring prey in dark, deep-sea environments, but also serves to call males' attention to the females to facilitate mating.

All the above definitely make the red lipped batfish one of the oddest fish lurking in the ocean bottoms!

Want to learn more about this peculiar creature? Keep reading!

Where is the red-lipped batfish found?
The species is exclusively found on the sandy bottoms around the Galapagos Islands, at depths of 30 meters (100 feet.) or greater. The species inhabits sand and rubble substrate, with the deepest recorded sighting being at 120 m (400 ft). 

Why the bright red lips?
Some scientists speculate that the bright red lips enhance species recognition during spawning while others say they may be used by males to attract the opposite sex. The reality is that these are just theories and nobody really knows... Yet! 

Description
Adults are relatively small, with a maximum length of up to 25cm (10 in.). The head is depressed and elevated above the disk with a pointed, horn-like snout that has a few hairs. The snout projects well forward between the eyes. Color varies from a creamy-beige to emerald green and they also have two long stripes along their back. 

What does it eat?
It's a voracious carnivore known to eat mainly small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans like shrimps and crabs.

Conservation Status
Luckily, the species in not threatened and there  are no known major threats. The species is quite safe in the deep water habitat it resides :) Currently, it's listed as of "Least Concern" by the IUCN.

Quick Overview 

• It looks like it put lipstick! The role of the bright red color is unknown
• Bad swimmer, body allows is to walk and sit on the ocean floor
• The dorsal fin becomes a single spine-like projection that lures prey
• The species' scientific name (O. Darwini) is in honor Charles Darwin

Meet its' Cousin - The Rosy Lipped Batfish!
Near the Cocos Islands off the coast of Costa Rica lurks the closely related Rosy-Lipped Batfish (Ogcocepphalus porrectus), that looks and behaves very similarly. 

References

1. http://www.strangeanimals.info/2011/10/red-lipped-batfish.html
2. http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity/red-lipped-batfish/

More strange animals
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