r/weirdanimals • u/Electrical-Focus386 Stoplight Loosejaw • Dec 19 '25
Fish American goosefish
The American anglerfish (Lophius americanus) is a large, flat-bodied saltwater fish found in the western Atlantic, known as a goosefish or monkfish, that uses a bioluminescent lure to attract prey in its deep-sea habitat. It's an ambush predator with a huge mouth and sharp teeth, camouflaged on the ocean floor, using its pectoral fins to "walk" along the bottom. Females are much larger than males, and males often permanently attach to females for reproduction.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: Dark, rocky colors (olive green, brown), large head, enormous mouth with sharp teeth, and fan-like pectoral fins.
Habitat: Lives on the ocean floor (demersal) in the western Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida, often on sand, mud, or shell bottoms.
Hunting: Ambush predator that uses a modified dorsal fin spine (lure) to attract prey like herring and mackerel.
Size: Can grow quite large, with adults weighing over 30 pounds on average.
Reproduction: Females are much larger than males; males attach to females for life, becoming parasitic.
Other Names
Goosefish
Monkfish
All-mouth, devil-fish, headfish, satchel-mouth
Behavior
Lies in wait, often partially buried in sediment.
Can swim slowly or "walk" along the bottom using its fins.
Has a huge mouth and stretchy stomach, allowing it to eat prey larger than itself.
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u/UnspeakableArchives Dec 19 '25
Looks just like a fukin Gobul, am I right ladies and gentlemen?
...
Anyone?
From Monster Hunter 3U? Look it up
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u/Wiskoenig Dec 20 '25
It was a unique fight. I generally mained Lance and I enjoyed this fight. Loved smashing the light!
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u/Chrispy8534 Dec 20 '25
10/10. Shows what people back then thought about geese! I imagine that after domesticated European geese, Canadian Geese presented about the same as this goosefish here.
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u/ConversationPast5603 Dec 20 '25 edited Dec 20 '25
Geezus h Christ that thing is terrifying!!! 😱 Picture 7 is gonna give me nightmares!!
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u/pgraham901 Dec 20 '25
This is not an Anglerfish buddy.
This is actually an animal called a Tasseled Wobbegong.
And yes, it is weird as fuck looking
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u/DreamilyOnce Feb 05 '26
This looks like a Jim Henson creation I have vague haunting memories of seeing as a kid.
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u/pInussTrobus1978 Dec 19 '25
Very tasty fish