Meet the Red-Lipped Batfish — a fish that would rather walk across the ocean floor than swim, with lips so red it looks like it just put on lipstick.
Ogcocephalus darwini · Hubbs, 1958
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The red-lipped batfish, also called the Galápagos batfish, is one of the strangest-looking fish on the planet: a flattened body, a pointed snout sticking out in front, and — its signature — bright red lips.
It belongs to the anglerfish order (Lophiiformes). Instead of swimming, it uses its modified fins like legs to slowly walk across the sandy sea floor.
Its scientific name, Ogcocephalus darwini, honours Charles Darwin, whose work in the Galápagos shaped his theory of evolution. The species was formally described by Carl L. Hubbs in 1958.
This fish is found mainly around the Galápagos Islands, and has also been recorded off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. It prefers the sandy edges of reefs and the open sea floor.
Its pectoral and pelvic fins have evolved into leg-like limbs. It uses them to "walk" along the bottom and to prop itself up while it waits.
Like its anglerfish relatives, it has a small lure (illicium) under its snout that it flicks to draw small prey within reach.
It can swim, but not very well — so it spends most of its life on the sea floor.
Darwin never actually saw this fish, but because of his link to the Galápagos it was given the name darwini.
Its close relative, the rosy-lipped batfish (O. porrectus), lives near Cocos Island off Costa Rica — and it has pink lips too!
Thanks to its "lipstick" face, it regularly tops lists of the world's weirdest fish — and shows up in plenty of memes.
The truth? Scientists still don't know for sure!
The most popular theory: the red lips may help impress a partner during spawning season.
The colour might help batfish recognise members of their own species among other fish.
Some suggest the colour could help lure prey — but evidence for this is weak.
It's a carnivore that hunts small animals by sitting still on the bottom or slowly walking toward them.
Let's see how much you remember!