If you were scrolling through a lineup of the world’s most awkward animals, the red lipped batfish would easily take the crown. It looks like it just stumbled out of a Sephora after a particularly disastrous makeover. Or maybe like it’s perpetually offended by something you just said.
Evolution is a funny thing. Sometimes it creates a sleek, efficient predator like the Great White shark. Other times, it creates a fish that forgot how to swim and decided to grow "legs" instead. Found almost exclusively around the Galapagos Islands and off the coast of Peru, Ogcocephalus darwini is a deep-sea resident that breaks every rule you thought applied to marine biology. Honestly, if you saw one of these things scuttling across the ocean floor at 70 feet deep, you might think you’d found an alien.
It’s small. Usually under 10 inches. But it has a presence.
The Mystery of Those Bright Red Lips
Let's address the elephant—or rather, the lipstick—in the room. Why on earth does a fish living in relatively dim light near the seabed need fluorescent red lips?
Scientists aren't actually 100% sure.
Marine biologists like those at the Charles Darwin Research Station have hypothesized that the coloration serves as a recognition tool. Basically, it’s a "hey, I'm over here" sign for potential mates. In the murky depths where colors like red are usually the first to be filtered out by the water column, having that specific hue might help these solitary creatures find one another during breeding season.
It’s not for eating. It’s for flirting.
Some researchers have suggested it might also play a role in luring prey, though that’s generally the job of the illicium—the specialized "fishing rod" on their heads. Imagine a creature that uses both a lure and bright red lipstick to get a date. It’s a lot of effort for a fish that spends most of its day sitting still.
A Fish That Hates Swimming
This is the part that usually blows people's minds. The red lipped batfish is a terrible swimmer. Seriously. It’s clumsy.
Instead of gliding through the water like a tuna or a ray, it uses its pectoral and pelvic fins to "walk" along the sandy bottom. These fins have evolved to be stiff and limb-like. They function more like legs than rudders. When it does try to swim, it looks like it’s struggling against an invisible force, flapping awkwardly before giving up and settling back down on the sand.
This bottom-dwelling lifestyle defines its entire existence. It doesn't need to be fast. It just needs to be patient.
What’s for dinner?
They are carnivores. Little ones. They sit and wait for small crustaceans, mollusks, and the occasional tiny fish to wander too close.
Their secret weapon is the illicium. This is a modified dorsal fin that sits on the snout. While other anglerfish have bioluminescent lures that glow in the dark, the batfish uses chemical lures. It secretes a scent that draws prey in. Once the unsuspecting shrimp gets close enough to investigate the smell, the batfish lunges. It’s a low-energy, high-reward strategy that works perfectly in the nutrient-rich waters of the Galapagos.
Where to Find Them (If You’re Brave Enough)
You won’t find these guys at the surface. You've got to go deep.
Most sightings happen between 10 to 250 feet deep, though they’ve been recorded even deeper. If you’re a diver visiting the Galapagos, your best bet is Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. The water there can be chilly, and the visibility varies, but the sandy floor is prime real estate for batfish.
They don't move much. They’re masters of camouflage, despite the lips. Their bodies are a mottled brownish-grey with a rough, sand-like texture that blends perfectly with the ocean floor. If they tuck those red lips away or stay still, you’ll swim right over them without realizing they’re there.
Conservation and the Future
Thankfully, the red lipped batfish isn't currently on the endangered list. Because they live in protected waters like the Galapagos Marine Reserve, they are shielded from a lot of the industrial fishing pressures that devastate other species.
However, they are incredibly sensitive to temperature changes.
El Niño events, which bring warm water to the Galapagos, can be brutal for the local ecosystem. When the water gets too warm, the nutrients drop, and the food chain gets shaky. While the batfish is resilient, its specialized niche makes it a "canary in the coal mine" for deep-sea health in the region.
The Weird Anatomy of the Batfish
The body is flattened. It's almost triangular if you look at it from above. They belong to the family Ogcocephalidae, and their skin is covered in bucklers—bony, scale-like structures that provide a sort of armor.
📖 Related: Flights to Death Valley: What Most People Get Wrong About Getting There
- The Snout: They have a prominent horn-like projection called a rostrum.
- The Gills: Their gill openings are small and situated behind the base of the pectoral fins.
- The "Walk": Their pelvic fins are located under the throat, which helps with that characteristic shuffling gait.
It’s a weird mix of features that shouldn’t work, but it does. They have lived this way for millions of years, proving that you don't need to be "normal" to be a success story in the animal kingdom.
Seeing one in person
Honestly, photos don't do them justice. In a still image, they look like a prop from a B-movie. In person, their movements are jerky and deliberate. They watch you. Their eyes are expressive, often following divers with a look of mild annoyance.
If you're planning a trip to see them, make sure you're comfortable with deep-water diving. The currents in the Galapagos are no joke. You’ll need a 7mm wetsuit—or even a drysuit—because once you get down to batfish territory, the thermoclines will hit you hard.
Actionable Steps for Enthusiasts
If you’re fascinated by the red lipped batfish and want to see or support them, here is how to actually do it.
- Book a dedicated dive liveaboard: Standard island-hopping tours often focus on surface snorkeling with sea lions. To see a batfish, you need a specialized diving cruise that visits Isabela or Fernandina islands.
- Support the Charles Darwin Foundation: They are the primary boots-on-the-ground (and fins-in-the-water) organization monitoring Galapagos biodiversity.
- Practice neutral buoyancy: Since these fish live on the sandy bottom, bad divers often kick up silt or accidentally land on them. Mastering your buoyancy is crucial for ethical underwater photography.
- Look for the "shuffle": Don't just look for fish swimming. Scan the sand for movement that looks more like a crab or a toad. That’s your batfish.
The ocean is full of wonders, but few are as charismatic—and grumpy-looking—as this one. It’s a reminder that beneath the waves, nature is still experimenting with forms and functions we are only just beginning to understand. Next time you feel like your makeup is a bit much, just remember the batfish. It’s been rocking that look for eons without a single regret.