Lophius americanus

9.9

A large sea fish from the northwest Atlantic with a long wormlike lure to attract prey

noun
/ˈloʊfiəs əˈmɛrɪkənəs/

Specialized

: Lophius americanus

The distinctive lure on the Lophius americanus helps it capture unsuspecting prey in dark waters.

Examples

The Lophius americanus is prized by chefs for its mild, firm flesh known as monkfish.
Fishermen along the New England coast often catch Lophius americanus in their nets.
The Lophius americanus is commonly known as the monkfish.
Have you ever tasted Lophius americanus?
Fishermen along the New England coast often catch Lophius americanus in their nets.
The Lophius americanus is prized by chefs for its mild, firm flesh known as monkfish.
The distinctive lure on the Lophius americanus helps it capture unsuspecting prey in dark waters.

Synonyms

goosefish

vsLophius americanus

9.9

A large sea fish with a big mouth and flat wide head that uses a wormlike lure to catch fish

is the species found specifically in the northwest Atlantic

monkfish

vsLophius americanus

6.3

A large sea fish with a flat, wide head and a big mouth

is the specific northwest Atlantic species rather than the broader common name

Surface Forms

Lophius americanus singular

Lophius americanus plural

Morphology

Lophius + americanus

This is a Latin binomial composed of a genus name (Lophius, an anglerfish) and a species epithet (americanus = ‘American’). If a learner knows both constituents, the name transparently denotes the American species of Lophius (i.e., the monkfish), following a clear compositional naming pattern common in biology and across languages.

Etymology

Lophius americanus is the scientific name for an anglerfish often called 'monkfish' because it has a long, wormlike 'lure' on its head that works like a tiny 'fishing rod' to attract prey. That's why the name and the idea of an 'angler', a fisher, match how this fish catches food.