| Himantolophus groenlandicus (Reinhardt JCH 1837, 60cm in length)
is a deep sea angler. Strongly resembling the frogfish Antennarius, Himantolophus lacks any trace of a pelvis or pelvic fin. The skin is covered with large bony plates, each with a medial spine. The teeth are depressible. This single genus has 18 species.
As in other deep sea anglers, females are large, up to 60cm. Toothless males are only 4cm, but not parasitic, unlike the males of many other anglerfish. THis is a sedentary, sit-and-wait predator and a poor swimmer. Oddly, the pectoral fin of Himantolophus consists of a humerus, radius and ulna, common to anglers. Anglers and frogfish are convergent with lobefins in this regard. |
