Anglerfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lophiiformes |
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| Melanocetus johnsonii | |
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Lophiiformes
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Anglerfish are amazing fish that live in the ocean. They belong to a group of fish called Lophiiformes. These fish are famous for a special "fishing rod" that sticks out from their heads, right above their mouths.
This fishing rod looks a bit like a real fishing pole. It's actually part of their dorsal fin (the fin on their back). Anglerfish can make their rod glow using their own light, which is called bioluminescence. Then, they wiggle it around to make it look like a small sea animal. When other creatures come close to eat the "bait," the anglerfish quickly eats them instead! They are called anglerfish because they catch fish with bait, just like people who go fishing with a rod and line.
Some anglerfish, like those in the Ceratiidae family, have a very unusual way of mating. The male anglerfish actually attaches itself to the female and becomes a part of her body!
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How do Anglerfish Live?
Swimming and Saving Energy
Anglerfish often live in the deep sea, where food is hard to find. Because of this, they are very good at saving energy. Scientists once watched a female anglerfish for a long time deep in the ocean. Most of the time, she just floated around, not moving much. This slow behavior helps them save energy in their dark, food-scarce home.
Sometimes, anglerfish are seen swimming upside down! They float motionless with their "fishing rod" hanging down. This might be another clever way to attract prey, making it seem like their lure is coming from above a burrow. When a camera got too close, they would quickly swim away, still upside down!
Anglerfish have a special ability: their jaws and stomach can stretch very wide. This allows them to eat prey that is even twice their own size! This is super helpful because food is scarce in the deep ocean. When they do find food, they can eat a lot and store it.
How Anglerfish Hunt
The name "anglerfish" comes from their unique hunting style. Most anglerfish have a long, thin part sticking out from the middle of their heads. This is called the illicium. At the end of the illicium is a fleshy lure called the esca. The illicium can move in all directions, like a fishing rod.
Anglerfish can wiggle their esca to make it look like a small animal, such as a worm or a tiny fish. This tricks other fish into swimming closer, thinking they've found an easy meal. But when they get close enough, the anglerfish quickly opens its huge mouth and swallows them whole!
Some deep-sea anglerfish use light to attract their prey. The esca on their "fishing rod" glows in the dark ocean. This light comes from tiny bacteria that live inside the esca. It's a special partnership called symbiosis, where both the fish and the bacteria benefit. The bacteria get a safe home, and the fish gets a light to hunt with!
Because anglerfish are "opportunistic foragers," they will eat almost anything they can catch. They are not picky eaters, but they do seem to prefer certain types of prey when they have a choice.
Where did Anglerfish Come From?
Scientists have studied the DNA of anglerfish to learn about their history. They believe that anglerfish started to become many different types of species a long time ago, between 130 and 100 million years ago. This was during a period called the Lower Cretaceous.
Images for kids
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(A) Centrophryne spinulosa, 136 mm SL (B) Cryptopsaras couesii, 34.5 mm SL (C) Himantolophus appelii, 124 mm SL (D) Diceratias trilobus, 86 mm SL (E) Bufoceratias wedli, 96 mm SL (F) Bufoceratias shaoi, 101 mm SL (G) Melanocetus eustalus, 93 mm SL (H) Lasiognathus amphirhamphus, 157 mm SL (I) Thaumatichthys binghami, 83 mm SL (J) Chaenophryne quasiramifera, 157 mm SL.
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Striped anglerfish (Antennarius striatus)
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See also
In Spanish: Lophiiformes para niños
