Randall's frogfish was first formally described in 1970 by the American ichthyologist Gerald R. Allen with its type locality given as off Motu Tautara, Easter Island.

[3] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Antennarius in the family Antennariidae within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

[4] Randall's frogfish has the genus name Antennarius which suffixes -ius to antenna, an allusion to first dorsal spine being adapted into a tentacle on the snout used as a lure to attract prey.

The specific name honours John Ernest Randall of the Bishop Museum who enabled Allen to participate in the 1969 expedition to Easter Island on which the holotype was collected.

It is foun dfrom the surface down to depths of 53 m (174 ft) in rubble and rocky habitats and it is often found in association with coral reefs and algae.