Soft Leftvent Angler, Haplophryne mollis (Brauer, 1902)

Scientific name: Haplophryne mollis
Alternative name/s:
Soft Leafvent Angler
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    08/04/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
<i>Haplophryne mollis </i> Click to enlarge image
A female Soft Leafvent Angler trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1200m, south of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (AMS I.42708-002). Image: M. McGrouther
© NORFANZ

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Haplophryne
    Species
    mollis
    Family
    Linophrynidae
    Order
    Lophiiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Females grow to around 8 cm in length, but males only grow to about 2 cm.

Introduction

The Soft Leftvent Angler is named for its asymmetrically placed vent. The species is highly sexually dimorphic. Mature males parasitise the much larger females.

3d model of the skeleton and skin combination of the Soft Leftvent Angler hosted by Pedestal3D. Click '?' for instructions.

© Australian National University, National Laboratory for X-ray Micro Computed Tomography

View the Soft Leftvent Angler on Pedestal3D for full screen and access to more functions.

Identification

The Soft Leftvent Angler is a sexually dimorphic species. Females have rounded, unpigmented bodies. They have several spines on the head and a rounded esca on the snout.

I.21365-008 - Haplophryne mollis
I.20315-009 - Haplophryne mollis
I.20315-009 - Haplophryne mollis

Distribution

Soft Leftvent Anglers occurs in deep tropical and subtropical marine waters of all oceans. In Australia specimens have been trawled from off central to southern New South Wales and east of Tasmania, but the species is almost certainly more widespread.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Breeding behaviours

Mature males are usually seen permanently attached to females. When a free-living male encounters a female, it bites the female and the skin of his mouth eventually fuses with that of the female. The male then becomes parasitic on the female.

References

  1. Bertelsen, E., & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The Ceratioid Anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 35: 77-99.
  2. Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7. Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.
  3. Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & D.F. Hoese. 2006. Standared Names of Australian Fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 009. Pp. 65.