This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean and was previously considered to be a synonym of Antennarius striatus.

[4] 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.

There are irregular, slender brown bars and spots on the head, body and fins with dark discontinuous lines radiating out from the eye.

[7] Antennarius scaber is found in the western Atlantic Ocean where it occurs as far north as New Jersey and Bermuda south through the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the island groups of the Caribbean to the southernmost coast of Brazil.

[7] Anetnnarius scaber, like other frogfishes, is an ambush predator using the illicium with its esca on the tip to lure prey within striking distance of the mouth.