Monkfish

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Monkfish is a common English name of a number of species of fish.

[edit] Lophius

Most of the fish referred to as monkfish belong to the genus Lophius, in the anglerfish family Lophiidae. Monkfish is the most common English name for this genus in the northwest Atlantic but goosefish is used as the equivalent term on the eastern coast of North America. It is also refered to as a poor man's lobster because of its texture and taste when cooked. As the most common anglerfish found in coastal waters around the British Isles, it can be known by that name alone.

This monkfish has 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, and is movable in all directions; this "tentacle" 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 tentacle.

It grows to a length of more than 5 ft.; specimens of 3 ft. are common.

Two species Lophius piscatorius and Lophius budegassa are found in north-western Europe and referred to as monkfish, with L. piscatorius by far the most common species around the British Isles.

[edit] Squatinidae

A second group of fish also known as monkfish are members of the genus Squatina, in the angel shark family Squatinidae. These are of somewhat similar shape to the anglerfish, but completely unrelated; like the true sharks, they are elasmobranchs. These fish are only of minor significance for human consumption, though they are endangered because they are caught as bycatch by trawlers.