Anglerfish
Anglerfish
Fish
A deep-sea fish known for the glowing lure on its head.
💡 Fun Facts
- The glowing lure is filled with bioluminescent bacteria that light up to attract prey in the pitch black.
- Their teeth are angled inward, making it impossible for prey to escape once bitten.
- In some species, the tiny male permanently attaches himself to the much larger female, eventually fusing with her body.
Name Story
Melanocetus johnsonii
means “Johnson's black sea-monster”
What does its name mean?
- Melanocetus — black sea-monsterGreek melas 'black' + ketos 'sea-monster, whale'
- johnsonii — of Johnsonnamed in honour of the naturalist James Yate Johnson
Deep in the dark ocean lives a jet-black fish with a glowing lure dangling over its mouth — 'black sea-monster' fits it perfectly, and the light on its little fishing-rod is made by tiny glowing bacteria.