Fish Facts: Atlantic Footballfish – Himantolophus Groenlandicus

Atlantic footballfish are rarely seen. They are a sort of angler fish with a growth that comes off the head to form a fish attracting lure. This specimen was recovered from the stomach of a large swordfish. Evidentally this one no longer has its lure because of being eaten and slightly digested. They are named Atlantic Footballfish but they actually occur world wide. The scientific name is “Himantolophus groenlandicus”! If I am wrong then it is a least in the genus Himantolophus.