American Anglerfish

The American Angler is a flat fish with a very large mouth with strong teeth and spines on its head. The pectoral fins are like wide fans behind the head, and the pelvic fins are like small hands below the head. They are rocky colored – a mix of dark olive green and brown. Its large mouth and teeth allow it to trap any prey, even larger than itself. The sharp spines on its head are flattened to make it look like a small organism and uses that part of its body to attract its prey. The American Angler is what's known as an ambush predator. It will spend most of its time on the ocean floor partly covered in sediment waiting for its prey. It can swim slowly or walk with the help of its pectoral fins.
The Angler prefers squid and cuttlefish, however, they do sometimes feast on ray fish and occasional a carrion or two. There is also the occasional times after a storm that they will get pushed to the sea's surface and eat birds.
The American Anglerfish can grow up to 55 inches but their average size is around 39 inches. Their average weight is 26.5 lbs. however, a whopping 70.5-pound Angler has been recorded.
Category:Fish