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Smalldisk goosefish (Lophiodes miacanthus) — Lophiidae

Smalldisk goosefish

Lophiodes miacanthus
Family: Lophiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Smalldisk goosefish (Lophiodes miacanthus) is a saltwater fish of the family Lophiidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
110.0–960.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Irregular
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The smalldisk goosefish is an anglerfish of the goosefish family (Lophiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a strongly flattened body with a broad, large mouth and a modified first dorsal ray with a lure on the head. It lives benthically on soft bottoms of the continental shelf and slope. As an ambush predator it lies camouflaged on the bottom and lures prey with the rod toward its large, sharp-toothed mouth, then engulfs fishes and crustaceans. Owing to its deeper, hidden habits the species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Smalldisk goosefish?

The Smalldisk goosefish has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Smalldisk goosefish live?

The Smalldisk goosefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Smalldisk goosefish get?

The Smalldisk goosefish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Smalldisk goosefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Smalldisk goosefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Smalldisk goosefish edible?

The Smalldisk goosefish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kleinstekel-zeeduivel sourced
English name
Smalldisk goosefish sourced
Scientific name
Lophiodes miacanthus
Family
Lophiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Irregular sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
110.0 verified
Max depth (m)
960.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lophiodes

More from the family Lophiidae

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