Anglerfish Identification Guide

Anglerfish are an unmistakable group named for the fishing-rod-like lure they use to attract prey. They range from deep-sea species to shallow frogfish and goosefish.

Key identification features

• A modified dorsal fin spine forming a lure (illicium) with a fleshy tip projecting over the mouth; in deep-sea species the tip is bioluminescent.
• A very large mouth with long, inward-pointing teeth.
• A globular or flattened, soft body with loose skin, often lacking obvious scales.
• Slow, ambush lifestyle rather than active swimming.

Groups you might see

• Deep-sea anglerfish: rounded black or brown body with a glowing lure; tiny parasitic males in some species.
• Frogfish: shallow, warty, camouflaged ambush predators with a lure.
• Goosefish/Monkfish: broad, flattened bottom-dwellers with a huge upturned mouth.

Where you'll see one

Anglerfish occur from coral reefs to the deep sea. The lure over a large mouth on a soft, camouflaged or globular body is diagnostic — no other fish combines these features.