Credit for the photo: Gabriel Salvo (Chile) Description: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
This photo was taken in the fish market at Gotemburg, Sweden
Monkfish and goosefish are the most common English names for the genus Lophius. Angler fish and all-mouth are also used for the monkfish.
Atlantic monkfish, Lophius americanus, does exist in the Atlantic Ocean while the European monkfish, Lophius piscatorius, can be found in northern European waters. Even though, the monkfish is a bottom-dwelling species that may occur to a depth of about 1800 m, it also occurs in shallow waters close to water surface. However, the stock of monkfish migrates to deeper water to spawn.
The body of this bottom-dwelling fish is composed mainly of huge mouth with sharp teeth attached to a muscular tail. It grows to a length of about 1 m are common. The sharp teeth and huge mouth imply the predation behavior of this species.
Although monkfish is often described as an ugly fish, its edible portions especially its tail meat is delicious and comparable to lobster tail meat. Also, its liver enjoys high demand for special dishes.
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