anglerfish

[ang-gler-fish]

noun

plural

anglerfish ,

plural

anglerfishes .

1. angler.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anglerfish¹

First recorded in 1645–55; angler + fish

Example Sentences

Indeed the anglerfish, famous for its razor sharp teeth and bioluminescent lure used to snag prey, died only a few hours after the scientists spotted it.

Read more on Salon

A groundbreaking Rice University study sheds light on the extraordinary evolution of anglerfish, a group of deep-sea dwellers whose bizarre adaptations have captivated scientists and the public alike.

Read more on Science Daily

How did the ghoulish creatures known as anglerfish pull off the evolutionary feat that let them essentially take over the ocean’s sunless depths?

Read more on New York Times

To better understand the relationships and ages of anglerfish species, they analyzed genome-scale DNA sequence data from over 100 species together with fossil evidence.

Read more on Science Daily

Some use light to startle predators, “like a burglar alarm,” and others use it to lure prey, as anglerfish do, said Quattrini, who is curator of corals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Read more on Seattle Times