Red-Lipped Batfish, the Strange Fish That Walks the Seafloor

Off the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean lives one of the strangest fish known to science, the Red-lipped Batfish. Its scientific name is Ogcocephalus darwini, and its bright red lips make it look as if it is wearing lipstick. But the unusual appearance is only part of what sets it apart.

Unlike most fish, the batfish is not a strong swimmer. Its fins function more like legs, allowing it to “walk” across the seafloor, crawl among rocks and sand, and search for food. That slow movement helps it save energy while it looks for small prey living on the ocean bottom.

One of its most remarkable features is a small fishing rod-like appendage on its head, developed from one of its fins. It uses this lure to attract tiny creatures such as crustaceans, worms, and small fish. When prey comes close out of curiosity, the batfish opens its mouth quickly and sucks it in, a hunting method similar to that of anglerfish relatives.

Scientists still do not know why the fish has such vivid red lips. Some think the color may help individuals recognize each other during mating, while others believe it could serve as a visual signal in the relatively dark seafloor environment. The Galapagos Islands, where the fish is mainly found, are famous for their unique wildlife, and the batfish is one of the clearest examples of that isolation-driven diversity.