Home · Batrachoididae · Fringed deepsea anglerfish
Fringed deepsea anglerfish (Bifax lacinia) — Batrachoididae

Fringed deepsea anglerfish

Bifax lacinia

The Fringed deepsea anglerfish (Bifax lacinia) is a saltwater fish of the family Batrachoididae that grows up to 33 cm.

Length
33 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–8.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Oman

Want the complete picture on the Fringed deepsea anglerfish?

Get the app

Description

The fringed deepsea anglerfish is an anglerfish of the continental slope in the deep western Atlantic. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a globular, flattened, soft body with a large, wide mouth, fringe-like skin flaps along the jaw and leg-like pectoral fins with which it shuffles over the bottom. Above the mouth it carries a spine modified into a tiny rod with a lure; with it it draws prey within range of its sudden gulping mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fringed deepsea anglerfish?

The Fringed deepsea anglerfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Fringed deepsea anglerfish live?

The Fringed deepsea anglerfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Oman

How big does the Fringed deepsea anglerfish get?

The Fringed deepsea anglerfish grows to a maximum of about 33 cm.

Is the Fringed deepsea anglerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Fringed deepsea anglerfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Fringed deepsea anglerfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Fringed deepsea anglerfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Fringed deepsea anglerfish sourced
Scientific name
Bifax lacinia
Family
Batrachoididae
Other names
Two-faced toadfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
33.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
8.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Oman sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Batrachoididae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Fringed deepsea anglerfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Fringed deepsea anglerfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Fringed deepsea anglerfish? Get the app