Anglerfish

Anglerfish is a bony fish named for its characteristic mode of predation, in which a fleshy growth from the fish's head acts as a lure for other fish.

Anglerfish occur worldwide.

Most adult female ceratioid anglerfish have a luminescent organ called the esca at the tip of a modified dorsal ray (the illicium or fishing rod).

The jaw and stomach of the anglerfish can extend to allow it to consume prey up to twice its size. Because of the small amount of food available in the anglerfish's environment this adaptation allows the anglerfish to store food when there is an abundance.

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By NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory

Striped anglerfish ( Antennarius striatus ). Gulf of Mexico.

Source / Image Courtesy

By Didier Descouens

Skeleton of the angler fish Lophius piscatorius: The first spine of the dorsal fin of the anglerfish acts as a fishing rod with a lure.

Source / Image Courtesy

The anglerfish uses a shiny lure to bring prey within range of its sharp teeth. But it also has a weirdly clingy side — after finding a female, the male black devil angler latches on and never lets go!

First footage of deep-sea anglerfish pair.