Goosefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goosefish |
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| Angler, Lophius piscatorius | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Lophiidae Rafinesque, 1810 |
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Goosefishes are a type of anglerfish found in oceans all over the world, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They live on the sandy and muddy parts of the seafloor, often very deep, sometimes more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) down!
These fish are known for their very large heads and huge mouths. Inside their mouths, they have long, sharp teeth that curve backward. This helps them hold onto their prey.
How They Hunt
Like other anglerfishes, goosefishes have a special "fishing rod" on their head. This rod is actually a modified fin spine. It has a lure at the end that looks like a light-up bulb or a wiggly piece of flesh.
This special fishing rod is called an illicium, and the lure is called an esca. The goosefish uses this lure to attract other fish. When a curious fish comes close to investigate the lure, the goosefish quickly opens its huge mouth and swallows its prey.
What They Look Like
Besides their main fishing rod, goosefishes have other fin spines on their heads and bodies. Some types of goosefish have their gill openings (where they breathe) extending a bit in front of their pectoral fins (the fins on their sides). Other types have gill openings that do not go past these fins.
Goosefishes can grow quite large. The biggest ones can be longer than 1.5 meters (5 feet)! That's taller than most people.
Goosefish and People
Some large types of goosefish, especially those in the Lophius group, are caught by fishermen. In places like northern Europe, they are often called monkfish.
Their meat is popular to eat. In Japan, the liver of the monkfish, called ankimo, is considered a very special and delicious food.
