Lophius

Lophius

Taxobox
name = Monkfish
fossil_range = Eocene to Present [cite journal
last = Sepkoski
first = Jack
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera
journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology
volume = 364
issue =
pages = p.560
publisher =
location =
date = 2002
url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2008-01-08
]



image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Lophiiformes
familia = Lophiidae
genus = "Lophius"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Lophius americanus"
"Lophius budegassa"
"Lophius gastrophysus"
"Lophius litulon"
"Lophius piscatorius"
"Lophius vaillanti"
"Lophius vomerinus"

Members of the genus "Lophius", also sometimes called monkfish, goosefish, fishing-frogs, frog-fish, and sea-devils, are well known off the coasts of Europe generally, the grotesque shape of its body and its singular habits having attracted the attention of naturalists of all ages. To the North Sea fishermen this fish is known as the "monk," or "monkfish", a name which also belongs to "Squatina squatina", the angelshark, a fish allied to the skates (see monkfish for discussion). The north European species is "L. piscatorius", the more southern species L. budegassa.

The head is of enormous size, broad, flat and depressed, the remainder of the body appearing merely like an appendage. The wide mouth extends all round the anterior circumference of the head; and both jaws are armed with bands of long pointed teeth, which are inclined inwards, and can be temporarily depressed so as to offer no impediment to an object gliding towards the stomach, while still preventing its escape from the mouth. The pectoral and ventral fins are so articulated as to perform the functions of feet, the fish being enabled "walk" on the bottom of the sea, where it generally hides itself in the sand or amongst seaweed. All round its head and also along the body, the skin bears fringed appendages resembling short fronds of seaweed. These structures, combined with the ability to change the colour of the body to match its surroundings, assists the fish greatly in concealing itself in its lurking places, which are selected for their abundance of prey.

"Lophius" sp. have three long filaments sprouting from the middle of its head; these are the detached and modified three first spines of the anterior dorsal fin. As with all anglerfish species, the longest filament is the first, which terminates in an irregular growth of flesh, the esca, and is movable in all directions; this modified fin ray is used as a lure to attract other fishes, which the monkfish then seizes with its enormous jaws, devouring them whole. Experiments have shown, however, that whether the prey has been attracted to the lure or not is not strictly relevant, as the action of the jaws is an automatic reflex triggered by contact with the esca.

Monkfish, like most anglerfish are also characterised by an enormously distensible stomach, which allows an individual monkfish to swallow prey fully as large as itselfFact|date=September 2007. Monkfish grow to a length of more than 150 cm (5 ft); specimens of 100 cm (3 ft) are common.

The spawn of this genus is very remarkable. It consists of a thin sheet of transparent gelatinous material 60 - 100 cm (2 - 3 ft) wide and 8 - 10 m (25 - 30 ft) in length. The eggs in this sheet are in a single layer, each in its own little cavity. The spawn is free in the sea. The larvae are free-swimming and have the pelvic fins with elongated filaments.

The British species is found all round the coasts of Europe but becomes scarce beyond 60° N. latitude; it occurs also on the coasts of the Cape of Good Hope. The species caught in North American waters is usually "Lophius americanus". A third species ("Lophius budegassa") inhabits the Mediterranean, and a fourth ("L. setigerus") the coasts of China and Japan.

There is concern over the sustainability of Monkfish fishing [http://www.fishonline.org/advice/avoid/?item=22] . The method most commonly used to catch monkfish, beam trawling, has been described as damaging to seafloor habitats. In February 2007, the British supermarket chain ASDA banned monkfish from their stores [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6318925.stm] .

ee also

*Lophiiformes
*Anglerfish
*Angler

References

External links

* [http://www.lophius.co.uk "The Compleat Lophius"]
* [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/education/monkfish/monkfish.html Monkfish facts, Maryland Department of Natural Resources]
* [http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/READ/popdy/monkfish/ NOAA Monkfish Research Program]


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  • Lophius — Lophius …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lophĭus — Lophĭus, Fisch, so v.w. Seeteufel …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Lophius —   Lophius …   Wikipedia Español

  • Lophius — pisca …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lophius — paprastieji jūrų velniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas gentis atitikmenys: lot. Lophius angl. anglerfishes; fishing frogs; goosefishes; monkfishes rus. морские черти; удильщики ryšiai: platesnis terminas – velniažuvinės… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Lophius — noun type genus of family Lophiidae • Syn: ↑genus Lophius • Hypernyms: ↑fish genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Lophiidae, ↑family Lophiidae * * * ˈlōfēəs noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lophius Americanus — Baudroie d Amériques …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lophius americanus — Baudroie d Amériques …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lophĭus piscatorĭus — Lophĭus piscatorĭus, Froschfisch, s. Seeteufel …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Lophius budegassa —   Rape negro …   Wikipedia Español

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