angler fish
Bioluminescent ocean hunter
An angler fish is a deep-sea fish with a bioluminescent lure protruding from its head, used to attract prey in dark waters.
The name comes from this fishing-rod-like appendage.
Angler fish are known for extreme sexual dimorphism—males are tiny and may fuse permanently to females, becoming parasitic mates.
Also spelled anglerfish.
Emitting light through biology
- escaFungal vine disease
- glowSteady, soft light
- attractionPull toward something
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
appendage · dangling · beacon · luminous · temptation · mimicry · entice
Surprise strike from concealment
- lureThing that tempts
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- preyAnimal being hunted
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
jaws · fangs · gulper · swallow · strike · patience · engulf · voracious
Organism-generated light emission
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
- darknessTotal absence of light
- midnight zoneLightless deep-sea region
- pressureForce upon contact
hydrothermal vent · submersible · extremophile · gigantism · chemosynthesis · oceanography · seafloor · trenches
Having irregular color patches
- crypticObscure in meaning
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- blendCombine into mixture
- colorationSurface hue arrangement
disguise · sediment · seafloor · adaptive · lurk · stillness · texture · benthic
Joining into unity
- matingReproductive pairing behavior
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bloodstreamFlow through vessels
- gonadsGamete-producing glands
bioluminescent
Emitting light through biology
- escaFungal vine disease
- glowSteady, soft light
- attractionPull toward something
deception · appendage · dangling · beacon · luminous · temptation · mimicry · entice
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
carnivore · jaws · fangs · gulper · swallow · strike · patience · engulf · voracious · opportunistic
esca
Fungal vine disease
- pectoral finsFish steering appendages
bioluminescence
Organism-generated light emission
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
- darknessTotal absence of light
- midnight zoneLightless deep-sea region
pressure · hydrothermal vent · submersible · extremophile · gigantism · chemosynthesis · oceanography · seafloor · trenches · benthic
mottled
Having irregular color patches
- crypticObscure in meaning
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- blendCombine into mixture
coloration · disguise · sediment · seafloor · adaptive · lurk · stillness · texture · benthic · undetectable
fusion
Joining into unity
- matingReproductive pairing behavior
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bloodstreamFlow through vessels
- bizarre creaturesaxolotl, aye-aye, blobfish, naked mole rat, platypus
- ugly animalsblobfish, naked mole rat, aye-aye, warthog, vulture
- sea creaturescrab, lobster, shrimp, jellyfish, octopus
- luminescenceluminescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence
- stocky animalswombat, badger, hedgehog, pug, bulldog
angler fishcoral reef fish
Marine life in colonies
tropical fish · clownfish · parrotfish · butterflyfish · tang