Red Lipped Batfish

RED-LIPPED BATFISH

(Ogcocephalus darwini)

Also known as the Galapagos Batfish

Spanish: Pez murcielago, Pez murcielago labio rojo

Endemic to the Galapagos Islands but closely related to the Rosey-Lipped Batfish of Cocos Islands.  It belongs to the Ogcocephalidae family.

Often considered an extremely ugly fish due to their unusual appearance.The batfish color ranges from a creamy-beige to emerald green and can appear either as a blue-gray color.  The have two long stripes along their back and bright red lips resembling lipstick.   These fish grow to a maximum of 40 cm in length. Their fins have evolved to allow them to move in a frog like hoping motion along the sandy bottom.

A  predator fish their diet typically consists of  shrimps, mollusks, small fish, crabs, and worms.  A bottom dwelling fish, it can be found at depths of  up to 100 meters.

Animalia – Chordata – Actinopterygii – Lophiformes – Ogcocephaidae

The best places to see Red-Lipped Batfish include Punta Vicente Roca and Tagus Cove near Isabela, Albany, Puerto Egas, Champion, Bajo Gardner and Pinta.