New Delhi: Have you ever seen a fish that walks on the ocean floor? Believe me, there is a fish in the world whose gait will be unbelievable. Its crawling is like a waddling walk. Not only is this fish’s gait unique, its appearance is also interesting. We are talking about the red-lipped batfish. This fish gets its name from its red lips. You will find this fish in the Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean.
Why is this fish special?
The red-lipped batfish, also known as the Galapagos batfish, is a uniquely shaped fish found at depths of 3 to 76 meters (10 to 249 feet) around the Galapagos Islands. It is very similar to other batfish but is found only in the Galapagos. The red-lipped batfish is a bottom-dwelling fish, typically found on sandy reefs or the ocean floor.
The red-lipped batfish has a light brown or gray body, with a white belly. Its upper body typically features a dark brown stripe of brown dots, running from the head down its back to the tail. The red-lipped batfish’s snout and horns are brown. As its name suggests, this batfish’s lips are a bright, almost fluorescent red, giving the impression of having just eaten a blood meal or wearing very bright lipstick.
The red-lipped batfish of the Galapagos islands walks on the ocean floor using its fins https://t.co/Tc9fhTV4tJ
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) January 18, 2026
Totally different moves
The red-lipped batfish’s most peculiar trait is its gait. According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, while it can swim along the ocean floor in search of food, its fins are better suited to function as false legs. It uses these “feet” to walk and perch while surveying its surroundings. It has a structure called an “illicium” on its head, which is believed to be used to lure prey. It is a fish and insectivorous species, feeding primarily on other small fish and small crustaceans like shrimp and mollusks.
Its gait is mostly frog-like, like a waddling gait, but when more speed is needed, the batfish can propel itself through the water by pushing with its pelvic fins beneath its body and using its strong tail.
