In most cases, the phrase "fish with legs" means a very similar amphibian axolotl, which is often purchased for keeping in aquariums. However, there really are fish that do not have legs in the full sense of the word, but successfully use other parts of their body in their quality.
Bentosaurus
A strange deep-sea fish, moving on stilts like strongly elongated fins, was first noticed by French researchers in 1957.
The creature walks along the bottom, is able to jump and strangely raises its head when moving. Scientists believe that this way it cleans the gills or determines the position of other inhabitants of nearby territories, focusing on their smell.
The body of the fish is small - from ten to thirty centimeters. This fish with legs stands out among others not only in the manner of movement. Bentosaurs are hermaphrodites. Scientists still have not determined how precisely fertilization occurs in them - whether a second individual is needed for the exchange of sex cells or reproduction occurs by self-fertilization of bisexual fish.
Bentosaurs are found at a depth of up to six thousand meters. Perhaps more, but so far this fact has not been recorded. Despite its amazing properties, this fish with legs cannot be called too rare - in the Hawaiian Islands there is an average of one individual per hectare.
Frog fish
A generic well-known name for fish with legs is the definition of “frogs”. They include quite a few species belonging to the family of clowns (Antennariidae) and included in the order of anglerfish. They are attributed to varieties of the monkfish.
Among them are giant and psychedelic, with loose skin without scales, characteristic of the species, but striking in the combination of colors and abstract lines. There are catchy decorated and hairy. Representatives of frog fish can be of a wide variety of sizes, colors and shades.
These fish have learned, like some that move along the bottom, to use the lower fins to save energy. In many deep-sea animals living closer to the bottom of the fish, the swimming bladder even disappeared during evolution.
Fins of frog fish resemble paws - they use them accordingly. Often these limbs are compared with arms or legs.
Axolotl
Very often, when asked about the name of a fish with legs, it recalls a fashionable little animal - a Mexican water dragon. He is not a fish. According to the zoological classification, axolotl belongs to amphibians, although the appearance of the creature is not typical for them. However, he is often mistakenly referred to colloquially for unusual fish with legs.
Axolotl justifies the title of fish, perhaps only by its way of life - it does not go to land. External gills allow the animal to secrete the necessary oxygen for breathing from the fresh, cool water of deep-sea lakes, in which it prefers to inhabit mainly.
Axolotls can live a dozen years, and the maximum size of the species is a little less than half a meter. The average individuals grow up to 20-30 centimeters.
Pineapple fish
It does not have legs, but on its fins it leaves the water and can spend on land up to eight hours.
Not only moves using the lower fins, but is able to climb a stone, shrub, and even a tree.
The range of these fish is the southern part of Asia. Individuals grow to about 35 centimeters. The colors have to match the vegetation and soil - from brown to green.
Fish with legs is a rather colloquial phenomenon, since these inhabitants of the water have no limbs in principle. However, walking, crawling and climbing fish, using various parts of their body for this, is quite an ordinary thing, with all its atypicality for the species in general.