 The only waters these fish are not found in are the Mediterranean and the Arctic.Williams (1989) and Arnold and Pietsch (2012), however, considered "Antennarius striatus" a species complex, and the putative synonym "Antennarius scaber" is apparently a distinct species from "A. striatus" in having a bifid esca and 11-12 pectoral rays.This species inhabits shallow, sandy areas or rocky and coral reefs to deep waters.