Lophiidae

noun

Distribution: Arctic, Atlantic (including the Mediterranean Sea), Indian and Pacific. Head extremely big, wide, and depressed (except Sladenia with rounded head). Well developed teeth. Lower jaw and sides of head and flanks fringed with small flaps. Pectoral fin 13-28 rays. Second dorsal fin 8-12 soft rays. Anal fin 6-10 rays. Vertebrae 18 or 19, in Lophius 26-31. Equipped with a movable rodlike structure above mouth, tipped with a flap of flesh resembling a flag apparently for luring prey. Mouth large. Maximum length 1.2 m.

The family Lophiidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Lophiiformes. It contains 4 genera and 25 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be sluggish. Members of this family have been dated back to the middle Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, lophos = crest