{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic_taxobox | image = Tassled_Angler_Fish.jpg | image_caption = Rhycherus filamentosus | taxon = Rhycherus | authority = J. D. Ogilby, 1907 | type_species = ''Rhycherus wildii'' | type_species_authority = Ogilby, 1907<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family|family=Rhycheridae|access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref> }}
'''''Rhycherus''''' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are endemic to the waters off Australia. This genus is classified in the monogeneric family '''Rhycheridae''', the '''Balrog frogfishes''', by some authorities.
==Taxonomy== ''Rhycherus'' was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1907 by the Australian ichthyologist James Douglas Ogilby when he described ''Rhycherus wildii''.<ref name = CofF/> ''R. wildii'' had its type locality given as South Australia, this taxon is now considered to be a junior synonym of ''Chironectes filamentosus'', originally described by François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau in 1872 from St Vincent Gulf in South Australia.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof genus|genus=Rhycherus|access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref> Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Histiophryninae within the family Antennariidae,<ref name=AHP>{{cite journal |author=Arnold, R.J. |author2=Harcourt, R. |author3=Pietsch, T.W. |author3-link=Theodore Wells Pietsch III |name-list-style=amp |year=2014 |title=A New Genus and Species of the Frogfish Family Antennariidae (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennarioidei) from New South Wales, Australia, with a Diagnosis and Key to the Genera of the Histiophryninae |journal=Copeia |volume=2014 |issue=3 |pages=534–539 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267751462 |doi=10.1643/ci-13-155|s2cid=83936725 }}</ref> while others place it in the monotypic family Rhycheridae.<ref name = CofF/> However, the 5th edition of ''Fishes of the World'' does not recognise subfamilies within the Antennariidae, instead classifying the family, including this genus, within the suborder Antennarioidei and the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |author1=Nelson, J.S. |author1-link=Joseph S. Nelson |author2=Grande, T.C. |author3=Wilson, M.V.H. |year=2016 |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |place=Hoboken, NJ |pages=508–518 |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6 |lccn=2015037522 |oclc=951899884 |ol=25909650M |doi=10.1002/9781119174844}}</ref>
==Etymology== ''Rhycherus'' is Greek and means "ragged", an allusion to the shaggy appearance of ''R. filamentosus''.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/lophiiformes1/ |title=Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 1): Families LOPHIIDAE, ANTENNARIIDAE, TETRABRACHIIDAE, LOPHICHTHYIDAE, BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE, CHAUNACIDAE and OGCOCEPHALIDAE |author=Christopher Scharpf |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=20 April 2024 |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf}}</ref>
==Species== ''Rhycherus'' currently has two recognized species classified within it:<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase genus | genus = Rhycherus| month = February | year = 2024}}</ref> * ''Rhycherus filamentosus'' <small>Castelnau, 1872</small> (Tasselled anglerfish) * ''Rhycherus gloveri'' <small>Pietsch, 1984</small> (Glover's anglerfish)
==Characteristics== ''Rhycherus'' anglerfishes' second and third dorsal spines are not hidden underneath their skin. All of the fin rays in their caudal fin are forked. They have smooth skin with many closely set cutaneous appendages instead of dermal denticles. Their third dorsal spin is mostly free, with only the basal quarter to third connected to the nape by a membrane.<ref name = AHP/> The largest species in the genus is ''R. filamentosus'', which has a maximum published total length of {{cvt|23|cm}}.<ref name = Fishbase/>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Rhycherus'' anglerfishes are endemic to Australia. ''R. filamentosus'' is found in southeastern Australia<ref name = FofA>{{cite web |author=Bray, D.J. |year=2021 |title=''Rhycherus filamentosus'' |work=Fishes of Australia |access-date=20 April 2024 |url=https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3841 |publisher=Museums Victoria}}</ref> while ''R. gloveri'' is found in southwestern Australia.<ref name = FofA2>{{cite web |author=Bray, D.J. |year=2019 |title=''Rhycherus gloveri'' |work=Fishes of Australia |access-date=20 April 2024 |url=https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3575 |publisher=Museums Victoria}}</ref> Both species of anglerfish occur on algal-covered rocky reefs at depths down to around {{cvt|150|m}}.<ref name = FofA/><ref name = FofA2/>
==Biology== ''Rhycherus'' anglerfish are oviparous. The eggs laid by the females are large, and each egg is adhered to the surface of a rock by a long filament. The male then guards the eggs with his body, protecting him until the offspring emerge. Like other anglerfish, these fish are ambush predators, luring in prey with their illicium or esca.<ref name = FofA/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3525934}}
Category:Histiophryninae Category:Rhycherus Category:Marine fish genera Category:Marine fish of Australia Category:Taxa named by James Douglas Ogilby