Family: Lophiidae, Goosefishes view all from this family

Description To 4' (1.2 m). Tapering; tan to chocolate-brown and finely mottled above, whitish below; fin membranes behind head black, other fins darker than body. Head flattened, rounded; mouth wide, opens upward; teeth numerous, thin, sharp. Gill openings in form of round hole behind axis of pectoral fins. Lower jaw, head, and side of body have fringe of fleshy flaps. Pectoral and dorsal fins squarish; pelvic fins broad, stubby. Anterior dorsal spines present, foremost modified as "fishing lure," third spine on top of head shorter than width of ridge between eyes.

Related Species Blackfin Goosefish (L. gastrophysus) with third spine on top of head longer, lacks membranes between spines behind head; posterior edges of pectoral fins not black; occurs in deep water from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Gulf of Mexico and Argentina.

Habitat On bottom to about 200 fathoms, but frequents shallows in north of range.

Range From Bay of Fundy to N. Florida.

Discussion Goosefishes have an enormous capacity for food and eat almost any kind of fish, various species of birds (they have been reported to eat geese), turtles, and invertebrates. They apparently can swallow fishes that are equal to their own weight.