Anglerfish - Lophiformes

Order:  Lophiiformes 

  • Anglerfish
  • Bony fish named after their predation characteristics
  • A fleshy growth from the fish’s head acts as a lure
  • Some are pelagic and some are benthic
  • Pelagic are most laterally compressed, whereas the benthic are dorsocentrally compressed with large up pointed mouths
  • Most adult female ceratoid anglerfish have a luminescent organ called the esca at the tip of the modified dorsal ray (the illicium, or “fishing rod”)
  • Purpose of the esca is to lure prey in the dark, deep sea environments
  • The esca is also used to get males’ attention for mating 

Scientific Name:     Rhycherus filamentosus    (Castelnau, 1872)

Common Name:    Tasselled Anglerfish

 

Distribution: Endemic to temperate waters of southern Australia, from off Lakes Entrance, Victoria, to Point Sinclair, South Australia, and in northern Tasmania.

Summary: A moderately large and very well-camouflaged anglerfish with skin densely covered in long filaments, and a large fishing lure resembling a marine worm.

Habitat: Pilons at Piers/Jetty, live on rocky reefs that are covered in macroalgae

Depth: 2 – 60 m

Size: 0 – 23 cm

Colour: Colour varies from greyish colour to purplish colour, brownish to reddish with dark and light bars and blotches and a whitish belly

Body: Dorsal fin I+I+I, 12-13; Anal fin 7-8; Caudal fin 9; Pectoral fin 9-11; Pelvic fin 5.Body moderately large, oval, tail base short; skin smooth, without spinules, and densely covered in long filamentous appendages; illicium ('fishing rod’) tipped with a large U-shaped worm-like appendage (esca).

Diet: Carnivore – ambush predator

Reproduction: Like most anglerfishes found in southern Australian waters, females produce large demersal eggs that are protected until the young hatch.

Details:

References:species

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2020). FishBase. Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282605 on 2020-05-19

 

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2021). FishBase. Rhycherus filamentosus (Castelnau, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282605 on 2021-07-03

 

 

References:

1.Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2020). FishBase. Lophiiformes. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=10316 on 2020-06-01
 
2.Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2021). FishBase. Lophiiformes. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=10316 on 2021-07-03

 

Scientific Name: Rhycherusfilamentosus (Castelnau, 1872)

Common Name: Tasselled Anglerfish

Distribution: Endemic to temperate waters of southern Australia, from off Lakes Entrance, Victoria, to Point Sinclair, South Australia, and in northern Tasmania.

Summary: A moderately large and very well-camouflaged anglerfish with skin densely-covered in long filaments, and a large fishing lure resembling a marine worm.

Habitat: Pilons at Piers/Jetty, live on rocky reefs that are covered in macroalgae

Depth: 2 – 60 m

Size: 0 – 23 cm

Colour: Colour varies from greyish colour to purplish colour, brownish to reddish with dark and light bars and blotches and a whitish belly

Body: Dorsal fin I+I+I, 12-13; Anal fin 7-8; Caudal fin 9; Pectoral fin 9-11; Pelvic fin 5. Body moderately large, oval, tail base short; skin smooth, without spinules, and densely covered in long filamentous appendages; illicium ('fishing rod’) tipped with a large U-shaped worm-like appendage (esca).

Diet: Carnivore – ambush predator

Reproduction: Like most anglerfishes found in southern Australian waters, females produce large demersal eggs that are protected until the young hatch.

Details:

References: species

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2020). FishBase. Rhycherusfilamentosus (Castelnau, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282605 on 2020-05-19

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2021). FishBase. Rhycherusfilamentosus (Castelnau, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282605 on 2021-07-03

 

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