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Sea devils (anglers). Monkfish and seafood salpicon What is the name of the fish with a light bulb?

Anglerfishes, Order bony fish, got their name (monkfish) not only because of predation, but mainly because they have a curious appearance.

The fish's head has a fleshy appendage that it uses as bait for fish. This is the front part of the dorsal fin. It hangs in the form of a “fishing rod” directly above the mouth.

When talking about the body size of monkfish, females are usually larger than males. People recognize the anglerfish as a fish because of its extreme sexual dimorphism.

Here are some interesting facts about the angler fish:

  • Researchers claim that this species of fish appeared 130 million years ago.
  • Monkfish colors vary from dark gray to dark brown.
  • These predators have huge heads that carry huge, crescent-shaped mouths.
  • The oral cavity is full of fangs: these teeth are angled inward to effectively capture prey.
  • Their length can vary from 8.9 cm to 1 m, with a body weight of up to 45 kg.

Where Can You Find Monkfish?

Angler fish spotted in various areas peace. Some of them can be seen in the depths of the ocean. Angler fish are listed as both demersal fish and pelagic fish. Monkfish live in all seas and all over the world. Some pelagic species of these fish live in the deep sea (eg Ceratiidae), while others live on the continental shelf (eg threadfin Antennariidae and goosefish Lophiidae). Pelagic forms are laterally more compressed, while benthic forms are extremely dorsoventrally compressed.

Differences between deep-deep fish (benthos) and pelagic fishing fish, their “rod” is directed steeply upward, the mouth corresponds dorsoventrally to the depression or compressed body.

Lophiidae is one of the most popular families of anglerfish

This family is in high demand in the fishery in East Asia, Africa, northwestern Europe and eastern North America.

IN North America and Europe, people often prepare dishes from the tail meat of fish of the genus Lophius. In North America, people call this fish goosefish.

Monkfish liver is a delicacy and is called ankimo in Asia. People who live in Japan and Korea consider it a unique dish.

Habitats of the Brachiopod Lophiiformes

Most angler fish can be found in deep sea areas. Ecologists work hard to observe and study this species of fish.

Fish often use deception and waiting strategies when they hunt prey.
When these fish swim, they expend only 2 percent of their energy. Animals remain lethargic, even during feeding and hunting periods.

    A fish that has a lantern actually exists and the fish is called a lantern fish, and correct name deep-sea anglerfish. Fish need light to attract food; the fish is a predator and feeds on other fish. The fish looks terribly scary, but it is found only in the ocean and the deep-sea anglerfish is safe for humans.

    There is a fish that lives in the ocean, and the name of such a fish sounds like a sponge-water angler, it also has another name and it sounds like a Lantern Fish. This is the kind of fish that nature came up with for us, it is very unusual.

    We are talking about a fish whose name is interesting in itself - the deep-sea anglerfish.

    I remember this fish from childhood, I liked its image, I thought about it different stories, because she seemed extraordinary to me, and surprisingly beautiful.

    Only **females** have a lantern fish with the complex name deep-sea anglerfish.

    The characteristics and features of these fish are clear from the name:

    They live at very great depths of the ocean - up to 3000 m. At such a depth, the internal pressure in the fish reaches a value of 300 atmospheres. In this regard, the fish look quite ugly, well, at least unusual, to be politically correct: the body is bloated, the eyes are bulging, the ventral fins are missing, the skin is covered with plaques, etc.

    Female deep-sea anglerfish are much more larger than males, they are true predators: a large mouth, powerful teeth, a large stomach, and a lantern as bait.

    Because It is very dark in deep water; females hunt with the help of a lantern. Small fish swim to the light, then the female brings the end of the fishing rod with a lantern to her mouth, and the victims swim there.

    You are probably interested in the deep-sea angler fish.

    There really is a fish that has a lantern - this is a deep-sea anglerfish. In another way, this fish is called lantern fish. Nature created it in such a way that it has a small flashlight on its head, with the help of which it perfectly lures small fish and shellfish to feast on it. The fish is predatory, has a large jaw with sharp teeth.

    Deep Sea Anglerfish or Lantern Fish

    This fish has a small flashlight on its head - this is how it was created

    She attracts small fish and shellfish with it.

    Which he then eats with great pleasure - this is the diet

    The fish is quite scary, with big teeth - a real horror depths of the sea

    At the same time, there will always be someone who wouldn’t mind having lunch with the angler himself.

    The deep-sea anglerfish is a deep-sea fish from the order Anglerfishes. They live on great depths World Ocean, preferring to stay up to 3 km. from the surface of the water.

    This fish received the nickname anglerfish for its remarkable appendage on the head of females. This fishing rod actually performs the role of catching prey: it is equipped with a special gland that is filled with bioluminescent bacteria. The angler lures the victim to this light, moving the fishing rod towards the mouth. Thus, the prey itself swims into the fish’s mouth.

    Flashlight Fish was discovered by Rafinesque in 1810. Now there are about 100 species of this family. They notice a decrease pelvic fins, close to their extinction. Luminous organs are distributed very differently. There are orbital, abdominal, preanal and posterior anal, caudal and, finally, supra-caudal luminous organs.

    I remember, even in my distant childhood, I saw in a book about animals an image of this fish that lives at great depths, and I remembered it because it was very remarkable appearance this cutie, which is called a deep-sea anglerfish or sea devil (you can read it here, or here). The fish was named anglerfish because of the growth in the frontal part - it looks like a fishing rod with a flashlight - with its help the predator lures prey.

    Deep sea anglerfish or lantern fish.

    This extraordinary fish is so adapted to environment, that over time created just such a bait, small fish swim to the light, the fish waits and eats them.

    This is such an insidious and interesting creature lives in the depths of our ocean, about 1500-3000 meters, which is quite a lot.

    Anglerfish photo:

    The World Ocean contains amazing creatures. Among these unusual creatures, With in this case fish, in its depths you can find amazing fish.

    Why is she amazing? - And the fact that she actually has a lantern - a bait (appendix), with the help of which she catches small fish that bite on her bait.

    This fish is called sponge anglerfish or fish - lantern.

    I remember during my childhood there was such a program, as well as a book and a cartoon, called KOAPP. And among the heroes there was a character, Angler Fish. I didn’t know then that this fish looked so scary. But this particular fish has such a device attached to its head, which helps the angler fish get food by attracting curious fish with a flashlight.

    However, the answer would not be complete if we did not talk about a fish that has a glowing lantern under its eye. This is the lantern eye fish or Photoblepharon steinitzi.

    Here is a photo of this fish.)

How a monkfish gets married February 28th, 2015

Sea devils are a group of angler fish. They live at great depths, can withstand enormous pressure and have an extremely unattractive appearance.

But you knew, for example, how anglerfish reproduce. In order for eggs to be fertilized, two different fish - a male and a female monkfish - must fuse into one organism.

When a male anglerfish finds a suitable mate, it digs into the female’s stomach and tightly attaches itself to her. Over time, the two fish merge into a single creature with common skin, common blood vessels, etc. At the same time, some organs of the male atrophy - eyes, fins, etc.

It is precisely because sea devils live most of it life, in the form of such a monster creature, scientists at first could not find male anglerfish in nature - they only came across females. It turned out that the males (or rather, what was left of them) were “hiding” inside.

Let's find out more about this fish...

Photo 2.

Are there many people in Russia who can boast that they ate the devil? Apparently, there are no such people at all. And this pleasure is quite accessible to the average European. The point is that monkfish although disgusting to look at, but delicious fish. It also lives off our coasts, including in the Barents and even the Black Sea, but here no one specifically catches it.

Monkfish, or European anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), is a large fish up to one and a half meters long, two-thirds of which is on the head, and weighs up to 20 kilograms. The mouth is outrageously large and lined with a palisade of sharp teeth. The bare skin with a fringe of leathery lobes gives the fish an extremely disgusting appearance. On the head there is a fishing rod - the first ray of the dorsal fin moved forward, from which hangs an appetizing “bait” - a small leathery bulb. All day long the devil lies motionless on the bottom and patiently waits for some fish to be tempted by his bait. Then, without hesitation, it opens its mouth and swallows the prey.

Photo 3.

European monkfish belongs to the family of angler fish. They live at a depth of 50-200 meters and are considered fairly common inhabitants. coastal waters. Only recently has it become known that their close relatives live in the depths of the ocean. They were called deep-sea anglers. About 120 species are now known. These amazing creatures are classified as small or very small fish. Females range in length from 5-10 to 20-40 centimeters, only the ciracy grows up to a meter, and males are dwarfs measuring 14-22 millimeters.

Only females have a fishing rod. Often this gear is clearly divided into a rod, a fishing line and a luminous bait suspended at its end. For each type of angler, the bait has a shape and size unique to these fish and emits light rays of a strictly defined color. The bait is a bag filled with mucus in which glowing bacteria live. In order to emit light, bacteria need oxygen. When the anglerfish has had lunch and is busy digesting food, it no longer needs light. It can attract attention to the anglerfish large predator. Then the devil squeezes the blood vessels of the fishing line and temporarily extinguishes his flashlight.

Photo 4.

The rod, located above the fish's head, is directed upward and forward, and the bait dangles near the mouth. This is where gullible game is lured. Gigantaxis have a rod with a fishing line that is 4 times longer than the fish itself. This allows you to cast the bait far and, teasing the prey, lure it to its mouth, which is always ready to open. Each type of bait attracts a very specific game. This is confirmed by the fact that in the stomachs of some anglers there are constantly found fish that are rarely caught in deep-sea trawls and are considered very rare.

Everything about deep-sea anglerfish is unusual, especially reproduction. Males and females are so different from each other that they were previously considered different species of fish. When the male becomes an adult, he goes in search of a female. Suitors have large eyes and an impressive olfactory organ to help locate the female. For a tiny fish, finding a bride is a difficult task. Nobody knows how much time they spend on this. It is not surprising that, having found a bride, the male immediately sinks his teeth into her.

Soon the male’s lips and tongue grow onto his wife’s body, and she takes her husband as her full dependent. Through the vessels grown into his body, the female supplies him with everything he needs. The male no longer needs the jaws, intestines and eyes, and they atrophy. In the male’s body, only the heart and gills continue to work, helping to supply oxygen to his body, and even the testes. During breeding, the female spawns eggs, and the male regularly waters them with milk.

Spawning takes place at great depths, but the eggs are lighter than water and float to its surface. Here they hatch into larvae. They feed intensely, grow quickly and gradually drown until they return to their homeland in their favorite depths.

Photo 6.

Some species of deep-sea anglerfish are considered edible. They are caught in the USA, Africa and East Asia. Particularly popular in North America is meat from the tail of the anglerfish, which is called Monkfish or Goosefish. It tastes like lobster meat. In Japan and Korea, goose fish liver is a delicacy.

White, dense, boneless and extremely tender meat of this fish can do honor to any holiday table. It is suitable for frying in pieces and opened in the shape of a butterfly, or for grilling, cut into cubes and placed on skewers, as well as for boiling and stewing. Monkfish is especially popular in France, where the meat from its tail is prepared in many ways, for example with boiled vegetables, and the head, if you can get it, is used for soup.

Photo 7.

Why is monkfish called "tail fish"
The fishermen quickly deal with the monster's head. All that remains of the fish is practically only an edible tail, which goes on sale without the skin. Therefore, monkfish is often called the “tail” fish, whose white, dense, boneless and extremely tender meat can do honor to any holiday table. Being a master of camouflage, the monkfish, with its dark, often spotted, top part body, almost invisible against the background of the bottom of small coastal reservoirs, among stones, pebbles and fucus. There he usually likes to lie, watching for prey. On both sides of the head, along the edge of the jaw and lips, fringed patches of skin hang down, moving in the water like algae. On the sides of the body there are wide fins, and on the back there are thin spines with a spherical thickening at the end, luring prey. This sea ​​monster can reach 2 m with a weight of 30-40 kg. Smaller specimens usually go on sale. But even a monkfish of this size can swallow enough big fish. They say that in the belly of one monkfish, 65 cm long, a young cod, 58 cm long, was found. Monkfish found in many seas, mainly in the Atlantic and North Sea, up to Iceland.

Photo 8.

The monkfish is also called a “frog” because it can jump
Sometimes during a hunt, the monkfish moves in a very unusual way: it jumps along the bottom, pushing off with its pectoral fins. For this they called him “frog”.

Photo 9.

In one species of monkfish, the “fishing rod” is retracted into a special channel on the back. The fish regulates the glow of the bubble by narrowing or expanding the walls of the arteries. And in the bottom-dwelling Galatetauma, the “fishing rod” is generally located in the mouth. Another species uses glowing teeth as bait.

To hunt, it is enough for an anglerfish to swim or rest quietly on the sand, from time to time opening its mouth and swallowing too much. curious fish. She has no chance to escape: the monkfish’s mouth sucks in water along with everything that swims nearby: mollusks, crustaceans, sometimes even stingrays and sharks. A very hungry anglerfish can catch a waterfowl. However, in this case, he often chokes on the feathers and dies.

Photo 10.

The monkfish does not know how to compare the size of its prey with the feeling of hunger. Ichthyologists have more than once observed cases where a predator caught and bit a large fish, much larger than itself, but could not let go due to the structural features of the teeth.

Anglerfish breed as unusually as they hunt. Males do not have “fishing rods” at all, and they themselves are very tiny. While females often reach two meters in length, males rarely exceed 5 millimeters. Each female carries several males: they dig into her, grow together and gradually turn into genitals.

Hungry sea devils are dangerous for scuba divers. They have very poor eyesight, which is compensated by their courage and gluttony, so it is better to stay as far away from a hungry anglerfish as possible.

Photo 11.

However, where does such a big name come from? According to one version, this fish received it for its, to put it mildly, extravagant appearance, even against the generally bright and diverse background of the inhabitants of the depths of the sea. A flat body, a huge ugly head with a huge mouth, in some species making up two-thirds of the total length, crowned with a palisade of sharp teeth, evokes a feeling of horror. These teeth are capable of turning prey into a mess of torn tissue and bones.

Photo 12.

In general, the monkfish is incredibly voracious and therefore boldly rushes even at a seemingly obviously unattainable goal. And in “hungry” moments the sufferer almost complete absence In sight, a large anglerfish rises to the upper layers of water from the depths and at such moments it is capable of attacking scuba divers.

You can meet such an inhabitant of the deep sea just at the end of summer, after a grueling hungry spawning, the “devils” go to shallow water, where they eat intensively until the fall, after which they go to wintering in greater depths.

However, compared to sharks, barracudas and octopuses, true sea devils or anglerfish do not pose an immediate danger to humans. Be that as it may, their terrible teeth can disfigure the hand of an unwary fisherman for life. However, the monkfish does much more damage not to humans, but to others commercial species fish Thus, there are legends among fishermen that, having fallen into a fishing net, he ate the fish that got there while he was there.

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Photo 20.

Monkfish is a predatory fish of the order Anglerfishes. This species received the name “monkfish” because of its very unattractive appearance. The fish is edible. The meat is white, dense, boneless. Monkfish is especially popular in France.

Whatever they call them - both monkfish and sea ​​scorpions, and anglerfish, and European anglerfish. However, there are also several varieties of this miracle fish. And in terms of originality of appearance, each of the types is not inferior to each other. People have never seen devils, but the sea monsters that have risen from the depths resemble creatures from the underworld.

It is worth saying that in aquatic fauna There is also another monkfish - a mollusk, but now we will talk about a representative of ray-finned fish.

In fact, it's simple sea ​​fish- a predator fish with an amazing, unlike anything else appearance. These fish belong to the ray-finned fish, to the order Anglerfishes, to the family Anglerfishes, to the genus Anglerfishes. Now in the watery depths of the earth there are two varieties of monkfish.

Appearance

At the first glance at this creature, a remarkable organ immediately catches your eye - the “fishing rod”. The modified fin really resembles a fishing rod with a luminous float. This ugly monster, sometimes reaching up to two meters in length and 30-40 kilograms, can itself regulate the glow of its float. But there is nothing supernatural about this. In fact, the float is a kind of skin formation, in the folds of which amazing bacteria live. In the presence of oxygen, which they draw from the blood of the anglerfish, they glow. But if the monkfish just had lunch and lay down to take a nap, he does not need a glowing flashlight, and it blocks the access of blood to the fin-fishing rod, and the float goes out until the start of a new hunt.

All appearance the monkfish marks him out as an inhabitant of the deep sea. Elongated body, with an unnatural big head, everything is covered with some kind of growths, vaguely reminiscent of either algae, or tree bark, or some kind of twigs and snags.

The body length of the monkfish is about 2 meters, and the animal weighs almost 20 kilograms. The body has a slightly flattened shape. In general, the anglerfish is not a very pleasant-looking fish. It is all covered with some kind of leathery growths that look similar to driftwood and algae. The head is disproportionately large, the monkfish's mouth and mouth are huge and unpleasant.

Habitat

The habitat of this fish is considered to be the Atlantic Ocean. The anglerfish is found off the coast of Europe, off the coast of Iceland. In addition, monkfish were found in the waters Baltic Sea, Black Sea, North Sea and the Barents Sea.

The depth at which these fish usually live is from 50 to 200 meters. Most often they are found at the very bottom, because there is nothing more pleasant for monkfish than just lying quietly on sand or silt. But it is only at first glance that the angler fish is idle. In fact, this is one of the ways of hunting. The animal freezes, waiting for its prey. And when it swims by, it grabs it and eats it.

Nutrition

Mainly, other, usually smaller, fish serve as food for these fish. The monkfish menu consists of Katrans, Silversides, Kalkans, Stingrays and others.

In general, the monkfish is incredibly voracious and therefore boldly rushes even at a seemingly obviously unattainable goal. And in “hungry” moments, a large anglerfish, suffering from an almost complete lack of vision, rises to the upper layers of water from the depths and at such moments it is capable of attacking scuba divers. You can meet such an inhabitant of the deep sea just at the end of summer, after a grueling hungry spawning, the “devils” go to shallow water, where they eat intensively until the fall, after which they go to wintering in greater depths.

However, compared to sharks, barracudas and octopuses, true sea devils or anglerfish do not pose an immediate danger to humans. Be that as it may, their terrible teeth can disfigure the hand of an unwary fisherman for life. However, the monkfish causes much more damage not to humans, but to other commercial fish species. Thus, there are legends among fishermen that, having fallen into a fishing net, he ate the fish that got there while he was there.

Reproduction

Male and female anglerfish are so different in appearance and size that until some time experts classified them into different classes. The breeding of monkfish is as special as its appearance and hunting method.

The male anglerfish is several times the size smaller than a female. To fertilize the eggs, he needs to find his chosen one and not lose sight of her. To do this, males simply bite into the female’s body. The structure of the teeth does not allow them to free themselves, and they do not want to.

Over time, the female and male grow together, forming single organism with a common body. Some of the “husband’s” organs and systems atrophy. He no longer needs eyes, fins, or a stomach. Nutrients are supplied through the blood vessels from the “wife’s” body. The male only has to fertilize the eggs at the right moment.

They are usually spawned by the female in the spring. Fertility anglerfish quite high. On average, a female spawns up to 1 million eggs. This occurs at depth and looks like a long (up to 10 m) and wide (up to 0.5 m) ribbon. The female can carry several “husbands” on her body so that they fertilize a large number of eggs at the right time.

It should be noted that a female monkfish can simultaneously lay a clutch of about three million eggs. After some time, the eggs are released and travel on their own. sea ​​waters. Turning into larvae, they live closer to the surface of the water for up to four months, and only when they reach a length of 6-8 cm do they sink to the bottom.

Monkfish are not able to compare the feeling of hunger with the size of their prey. There is evidence of an angler catching a fish larger than itself, but being unable to release it due to the structure of its teeth. It happens that a monkfish catches a waterfowl and choke on its feathers, which leads to its death.

Monkfish in cooking

Monkfish is suitable both for frying in pieces and for frying in layers on the grill, or cut into cubes and placed on skewers on the grill. Monkfish is boiled and stewed. The fish is especially popular in France, where the meat of its tail is prepared in many ways, for example with blackcurrant jam or sweet potato, and the head of the devil is used for rich, fatty, multi-spiced soup.

Monkfish meat is highly prized in Japan. Not only meat is eaten, but also liver, fins, skin and stomach.

The Chinese prefer to cook monkfish in a wok. The fillets are fried in oil with rice vinegar and soy sauce, sprinkled with ginger and chili. Then the wok is removed from the heat, the fish is covered with coriander and green onions, stir, serve with rice. Everyone who has tried this dish finds it slightly smoky. It's all a play on spices and the characteristics of the wok. The fish turns out tender and very juicy thanks to quick frying.

In America, monkfish is cooked mainly on the grill. The fish is cut into pieces along with the skin and vertebral bone. Marinate with salt olive oil and rosemary. The oil envelops the pieces of fish and prevents them from drying out. Monkfish is served with grilled vegetables, seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil.

In America, they prepare carrot puree with monkfish fillet meatballs. The carrots are boiled until soft, then simmered in heavy cream, chopped with the addition of coriander and salt. The monkfish fillet is crushed, mixed with salt and spices, and formed into meatballs the size of walnut, boil them for a couple. The puree is served in deep plates, with a dozen meatballs placed in each and sprinkled with fresh herbs.

In Korea they make it from monkfish national dish Heh and they cook a sweet and spicy soup, to which they add a lot of vegetables and fried monkfish (fillet) in batter. Monkfish meat, seasoned with hot spices, is placed in rice dough (pancakes) and fried in large quantities oils Serve fish with soy sauce.

In gourmet restaurants in a number of countries you can find dishes where monkfish is presented in the following form. The fish is fried and served, doused with sweet and sour sauce, poached fish is served with lemon and lemon zest, as well as poached and served with parsley or spinach sauce with cheese. The fish is fried with chili pepper, smoked paprika and ginger, simmered in white wine, cream sauce, milk, baked with tomatoes, fried, strung on rosemary sprigs.

Monkfish is baked in the form of a roll. The fillet is laid out in a layer on film, the filling is placed on top, for example broccoli, and rolled up. The ends of the film are tied, the roll in this form is lowered into water and the fish is boiled for 10 minutes at a temperature not exceeding 86°C. With this method, the fillet remains soft and juicy, but holds its shape perfectly. Served with fish cream sauce and fried potato medallions.

Monkfish are not often available for free sale, because... already mentioned above, the fish is under state protection and its catch is limited. Unfrozen monkfish can be found in large hypermarkets at a very high price during a certain season or on the market from private sellers (this is in Europe and America). The rest of the time, if fish is sold, it is frozen, but its price is just as high - 20 euros per 1 kg.

One of the most interesting inhabitants deep sea is an angler fish. Repulsive appearance unusual way hunting and relationships with the opposite sex significantly distinguish her from others sea ​​creatures. The habitat of fish at great depths did not immediately make its study possible. Currently, ceratiform or deep-sea anglerfish include a dozen families and more than a hundred known species.

These fish live deep at the bottom

Appearance and varieties

According to one version, the fish's inconspicuous and intimidating appearance, as well as its habitat, gave the fish its nickname, deep-sea monkfish. Some individuals can reach a length of up to two meters. The fish has a disproportionate spherical body, the head occupies more than half of the body. The color helps it camouflage perfectly. Anglerfish are dark brown and black, but their bellies are usually white.

The monkfish's mouth is huge, decorated with a row of sharp, inwardly curved teeth. There may be moving leathery folds around the mouth, which also help the fish to successfully hide in the algae at the bottom and wait for prey.

The fish has no scales, but in some species the bare skin is covered with scales transformed into spines. The anglerfish has a very poor vision and sense of smell, his eyes are very small. A fish raised to the surface looks completely different from what it does at its usual depth. A bloated body and bulging eyes are a consequence of excess internal pressure.


There are 11 families of monkfish

Anglerfish can be divided into 11 families:

  • Caulofrines;
  • Centrifrines;
  • Ceratiaceae;
  • Diceratiaceae;
  • Long probe;
  • Hymantolophaceae;
  • Linofrine;
  • Melanocetes;
  • Novoceratiaceae;
  • Oneiridae;
  • Thaumatichthaceae.

One more characteristic feature this type is a fishing rod (illicium). In fact, this is an overgrown dorsal fin, namely the first ray. The species Ceratias holboelli can hide the illicium by drawing it inside the body, while in Galatheathauma axeli it is located directly in the mouth.

In most species, the fishing rod is directed forward and hangs directly towards the mouth, luring in prey. At the end of the illicium there is an esca or bait. The eska is a leather pouch - it is a gland filled with mucus with bioluminescent bacteria, due to which the bait glows. Usually the glow is a series of flashes. Fish can cause and stop glowing, controlling the process by dilating and constricting blood vessels, since the iron needs blood flow, and bioluminescent bacteria need oxygen.

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism refers to differences in anatomy between females and males of the same species. This is especially pronounced in angler fish. For a long time scientists could not understand what a male angler fish looked like because they classified males and females into two different types.


Distinctive feature– there is illusion

The sizes of females vary from 5 cm to 2 meters, and their weight reaches 57 kilograms. These predatory fish They have a wide mouth and a highly stretchable stomach. They prey on others deep sea fish. Compared to them, males are simply dwarfs, because they reach a length of no more than 4 cm.

Another difference is the presence of illicium. Only females of this fish have a fishing rod. The deep-sea anglerfish also holds other surprises. Unlike females, males have developed eyes and senses of smell, which they need to find a female.

Habitat and food

The deep-sea anglerfish lives in the waters of the World Ocean. The fish is adapted to live at depths of up to 3 kilometers. The anglerfish is especially common in Atlantic Ocean, from the coast of Iceland to the Sea of ​​Guinea, preferring cool waters.

Females hunt other deep-sea fish - gonostomidae, chauliodae, melamphae, and also feed on crustaceans and sometimes cephalopods.

The hunting process looks like as follows. The angler fish lies at the bottom, hidden in the mud and algae. He turns on the glow of the eski and twitches it so that it looks like the movement of a small fish. To catch prey, the female patiently waits for it to swim to her. It pulls small prey into itself, sucking it in along with the water. It takes a few milliseconds to swallow a curious fish. Sometimes, using its developed pectoral fins or releasing jets of water through its gills, the anglerfish can jump forward, attacking prey.

The anglerfish is an extremely voracious fish; it can attack prey that is three times its size. Although the fish's stomach stretches to impressive sizes, such a meal ends in death for the fish. Since her teeth are curved inward, she cannot spit out her prey and gags.


Monkfish hunting methods are quite extraordinary

There have been cases when a species related to the anglerfish, monkfish, swallowed seabirds with the same outcome. As a rule, the monkfish floats to the top when it eats intensively after spawning. At such moments, he can attack a person.

  • Caulofrines;
  • Linofrine;
  • Ceratiaceae;
  • Novoceratiaceae.

Possessing good eyesight and sense of smell, males detect the female by emitted pheromones, which persist for a long time in the still water column. To determine whether a female belongs to their species, males visually evaluate the shape of the fishing rod and the frequency of flashes, which varies among all species. Having made sure that the female is of the same species, the male swims up to her and tightly clings to her side with his teeth.

Having attached itself to the female, the male anglerfish loses its independence. After some time, it fuses with the female’s tongue and lips. Its organs atrophy, in particular, the eyes, teeth, jaws, olfactory organs, fins, and stomach. He becomes one with the female, feeding himself through a system of common blood vessels.


Males find a female easily with the help of pheromones

Reproduction

Like most biological species, the deep-sea anglerfish breeds in the spring and summer, although no seasonal changes occur at greater depths. The ribbon of caviar can reach 10 meters. Millions of fertilized eggs rise to the upper layers of water, to a depth of no more than 30 – 200 meters. There the larvae hatch and for some time are eaten by crustaceans and bristlejaws, accumulating strength before the upcoming metamorphosis.

Larvae of deep-sea anglerfish thrive in warm waters. They can be found in tropical and warm temperate ocean zones where temperatures surface waters can reach 20 degrees.

By the time metamorphosis occurs, the fry descend to a depth of 1 km. Sexually mature anglers descend to their usual depth of habitat - 1500 – 3000 meters. Currents can carry anglerfish even into subarctic and subantarctic waters.

Eating

The European anglerfish or monkfish is a commercial fish species and is even considered a delicacy. Monkfish is caught in especially large quantities in Great Britain and France, but in general it is caught all over the world - in America, Africa, and East Asia.

The fish gained its popularity due to its dense, boneless meat, although quite tough. The tail part of the anglerfish is eaten, and soup is made from the head. The tail is prepared in many ways. Monkfish dishes are especially prized in France.

In this video you will learn more about this fish: