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Anglerfish in the north-east Atlantic

Anglerfish in the north-east Atlantic actually comprise to closely related species. The Norwegian catches are almost exclusively white-bellied anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), while only a few certain observations are made of the black-bellied anglerfish (L. budegassa).

Anglerfish are typically demersal, although they are sometimes found higher up in the water column. This probably happens when it lifts from the sea bed and uses ocean currents in connection with feeding- and spawning migrations. It can be found all the way from the littoral zone to the beds of the deepest fjords. It can be found down to depths of more than 1000 meters further south in the Atlantic.

Anglerfish is distributed from the Barents Sea to the northern parts of western Africa, in the Mediterranean…

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Facts about anglerfish

Latin name: Lophius piscatorius
Other names: Monkfish
Family: Lophiidae
Spawning area: The continental slopes (1000-1800 m) west of Britain, but also Norwegian fjords and deeper parts of the continental shelf
Prey: Fish, crustaceans and cephalopods
Longevity: More than 25 years
Maximum size: About 2 meters
Special features: Anglerfish spend most of their time motionless on the sea bed and use their first dorsal fin ray to lure various prey fishes. The prey is sucked into the large mouth when the anglerfish opens it