anglerfish

Everyday

An anglerfish is a fish with a big mouth and sharp teeth that catches prey using a long spine on its head with a glowing or wiggly tip that works like a fishing rod and bait. Many live in the deep, dark ocean. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the deep-sea anglerfish shows adaptations to darkness: its «lure» glows with light made by bacteria (bioluminescence), and small fish swim towards it and get swallowed. In some kinds the tiny male fuses onto the much larger female for life. The name comes from «angler», a person who fishes with a rod. Phrases: «deep-sea anglerfish», «glowing lure».

Examples

• The anglerfish dangled a glowing lure in the dark. tree →
• Small fish swim towards the light and get eaten by the anglerfish. tree →
• Anglerfish live in the deep ocean where no sunlight reaches. tree →
• The female anglerfish is much bigger than the male. tree →
• In the film, a scary anglerfish chased the little fish. tree →
• The anglerfish can swallow prey bigger than itself. tree →

Note

Plural is usually «anglerfish» (like «fish»), sometimes «anglerfishes». One word. In British fish shops, one kind of anglerfish is sold as «monkfish». Use «an» before it.