Lophiiformes

Lophiiformes [‚lä·fē·ə′fȯr‚mēz]

(vertebrate zoology)

A modified order of actinopterygian fishes distinguished by the reduction of the first dorsal fin to a few flexible rays, the first of which is on the head and bears a terminal bulb; includes anglerfish and allies.

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Lophiiformes 

(also Pediculati), an order of marine fish. The pectoral fins are greatly altered and can rotate. This ability enables the fish, which inhabit a substratum (the sea bottom, coral reefs, sargasso), to use their pectoral fins for crawling. The first ray of the spiny dorsal fin is located on the upper jaw and acts as a “fishing rod” with a “lure” at the free end to attract the prey. Most members of the order are predators. There are more than 225 species, which are grouped into the suborders Lophioidei (comprises one family—Lophiidae), Antennarioidei (comprises three families—Antennariidae, Chaunacidae, and Ogcocephalidae), and Ceratioidea.

REFERENCE

Nikol’skii, G. V. Chastnaia ikhtiologiia, 3rd ed. Moscow, 1971.