Anglerfish is a fish that uses a spine on its snout to “fish” for food. Anglerfish live in many parts of the ocean, including the deep sea. There are hundreds of species (kinds). Some species are colorful, but other species are drab or even completely black. Anglerfish of different species range from about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) to 6 feet (2 meters) in length.
The anglerfish gets its name from the fin spine on its snout. It uses this spine somewhat as an angler uses a fishing pole. The spine’s tip features a small, colorful tag of skin that serves as a lure. The anglerfish moves the spine back and forth to attract other fish and shrimp, which it eats. In deep-sea species, the tag even glows.
Deep-sea anglerfish reproduce in an unusual way. Males are much smaller than females. When a male finds a female, he attaches by mouth to her body. The female’s blood feeds the male, who fertilizes the female’s eggs with his sperm.
