With bright red lips and dark eyes that are bold and glamorous, this incredible underwater creature looks like it’s all dolled up! But the red-lipped batfish isn’t actually wearing makeup — its natural appearance is so striking, it could rival any pop star! A video of this fabulous creature on Instagram has us in awe of how cute it looks.
“The red-lipped batfish of the Galapagos Islands walks on the ocean floor using its fins,” the video, posted by Instagram user @explainanimals, says on text over the clip. In the caption, they added that the fish isn’t a great swimmer, so it uses its pectoral fins like legs to walk along the sea floor.
Red-lipped batfish are primarily found in the Galapagos Islands.
©iStock.com/tswinner
However, walking instead of swimming isn’t the most interesting thing about this fish. Its bright-red lips are the real showstopper! When the creature looks at the camera, it appears as if someone edited a human face onto a walking fish, but that’s just how its lips naturally look. They have a slight pout and a vivid red color, making the fish look as if it’s wearing makeup. Imagine having lips naturally that red—you’d save a fortune on cosmetics!
It’s fascinating how this underwater creature looks ready for a night out with the girls, but in reality, it’s just a regular fish. In the comments, people were just as amazed as we were. “It looks like a fish a 5-year-old with a great imagination would draw,” one person wrote. Another commented, “What is that color, sassy girl? 🤣😍.”
“Looks like my aunt Edna,” someone else quipped. “Baddie,” another comment said.
Nature is just fascinating, and we love to see it!
Why Do These Fish Have Red Lips?
The red-lipped batfish uses its fins like legs to walk along the ocean floor.
©Savva Danylchenko/Shutterstock.com
Red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) are primarily found in the Galapagos Islands, giving them the nickname Galapagos batfish. However, they are also known to inhabit waters off northern Peru.
Its pouty, fiery red lips are believed to attract mates (just like why humans wear lipstick!). In addition to its striking mouth, the red-lipped batfish has a disc-shaped, flat body with fins that act more like arms and legs than typical fish fins. They have an illicium on top of their heads with an esca at the end, which lights up the dark waters and lures prey in. All in all, the fish is only about 8 inches long and weighs less than 2.2 pounds.
Some red-lipped batfish even have tiny hair follicles around their face like a little beard. This isn’t for aesthetic purposes; instead, it can help them sense their environment. They sure know how to use beauty to their advantage.
A Bottom Dweller fish
The red-lipped batfish looks ready for a night on the town with its naturally red lips!
©bearacreative/Shutterstock.com
The Galapagos batfish survives on marine life that lives near its habitat, including shrimp, crabs, smaller fish, and marine worms. It is a bottom dweller and spends most of its time on the sandy bottom of reefs or the ocean floor, according to the Galapagos Conservation Trust.
They are typically found at depths of 30 to 60 feet, according to the Ocean Conservancy, but have been found in deeper waters up to 400 feet. When it’s time to mate, the red-lipped batfish releases eggs and sperm into the water to fertilize the eggs, and then the larvae are spread throughout the ocean. They have a lifespan of about 12 years.
In addition to the red-lipped batfish, there are about 60 species of batfish altogether. These creatures typically have flat heads and tend to walk on the bottom of the sea. Although they don’t all have red lips, they do all have a built-in bait to lure prey, as they are part of the group known as anglerfish. When not in use, they can retract it back into their bodies. Pretty cool, right?
Threats and Conservation Status
The red-lipped batfish is considered of Least Concern and has no known predators. However, they are at risk of rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching, which could alter their natural habitat and destroy their natural food sources. The industrial fishing industry and the pet trade could also pose harm to this unique species.
Other Animals Endemic to the Galapagos
The Galapagos fur seal is one of many animal species found only in the Galapagos.
©Aleksandr Golubev/iStock via Getty Images
The Galapagos Islands are a must-visit spot for animal lovers, as there are so many other creatures you’ll only see here. This remote group of islands is home to animal, plant, and insect species that are found nowhere else in the world. This includes the Galapagos Shearwater bird, the Waved Albatross, a lava lizard, the Galapagos penguin, marine iguana, Galapagos sea lion, Galapagos fur seal, and the Galapagos tortoise, among others.
