Anglerfish is the common name for more than 200 species of fishes, including goosefish, frogfish, batfish, and many other families of deep-sea anglers. Anglerfish are named after the way they capture prey, using a spiny ray above their snout that works like a fishing pole with a lure: the ray, a part of the dorsal fin, is tipped with a piece of flesh that looks like bait. When the little fishie comes by, unexpectingly (poor little guy) --- HELP!!!
Goosefish can be from 3 to 5 feet in length and weigh about 51 lbs. The short Lopdius piscatorius of the eastern Atlantic has a big , flat head , a huge mouth, dorsally situated jaws, and eyes resting on the top of its head. Its mouth and stretchable stomach allow it to eat a fish as big as itself. Imagine that! Thanksgiving dinner every day!
Frogfish use camouflage to catch prey. This fish also dangles its lure until the prey is attracted. When the prey touches the lure, the humongous mouth opens, vacuuming it within reach of the frogfish's back pointing teeth. Chow down!
Batfish are named for their large winglike pectoral fins and are known best for the way they "walk" along the bottom of the sea with their stout fins. The most modified of all anglerfish, batfish, have flat bodies, no scales, and don't swim very well. Batfish can bring their fishing rods into tubes when they are not in use to catch food.
Most deep-sea anglers live 984 to 13,210 feet under the ocean's surface. These fish swim slowly in the dark waters, guided by their mysterious glowing fishing rods. I think anglerfish are very interesting. Don't you agree?
