Editing Goosefish (section)

==Characteristics==
Goosefishes in the family Lophiidae have flattened heads and bodies covered in thin skin<ref name = Fariña>{{cite journal |author1=A. C. Fariña |author2= M. Azevedo |author3=J. Landa |author4=R. Duarte |author5=P. Sampedro |author6=G. Costas |author7=M. A. Torres |author8=L. Cañás |name-list-style=and |year=2008 |title=''Lophius'' in the world: a synthesis on the common features and life strategies |journal=ICES Journal of Marine Science |volume=65 |issue= 7 |pages=1272–1280 |doi=10.1093/icesjms/fsn140}}</ref> and are further characterised by the possession of [[pelvic fin]]s with the first, spiny [[dorsal fin]] having its origin close to the rear of the head and this fin is supported by between one and three spines.<ref name = Nelson5/> The frontmost spine, the illicium, has a flap of flesh, the esca, at its tip and is used as a lure to attract prey to within reach of the cavernous mouth.<ref name = labnews>{{cite web |url=https://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2025853/image_of_distinction_anglerfish |title=Anglerfish |date=5 September 2016 |access-date=3 March 2024 |publisher=Laboratory News}}</ref> There are 4 [[pharyngobranchials]], the 4th being toothed, and they have a large [[pseudobranch]]. The body has no scales and the [[Frontal bone|frontal]] bones of the skull are fused. They have a very wide, flattened head, although ''Sladenia'' has a more rounded head, with well developed teeth. The lower jaw has a fringe of small flaps along its edge and these extend along the head onto the flanks. The second dorsal fin is supported by between 8 and 12 soft rays while the [[anal fin]] contains between 6 and 10 soft rays. Most taxa have 18 or 19 vertebrae but in ''Lophius'' this count is between 26 and 31.<ref name = Nelson5/> The opening to the gills os located to the rear of the pectoral fin base.<ref name = STRI>{{cite web |url=https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/taxon/759#:~:text=The%20lophiid%20anglerfishes%2C%20which%20reach,1st%20of%202%2D3%20isolated |title=Family: LOPHIIDAE, Anglerfishes, Goosefish, Goosefishes |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system |publisher=[[Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute]]}}</ref> The largest species in the family is the angler (''[[Lophius piscatorius]]'') which has a maximum published [[standard length]] of {{cvt|200|cm}} while the smallest is ''[[Lophiodes fimbriatus]]'' with a maximum published standard length of {{cvt|7.5|cm}}.<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase family|family=Lophiidae|month=February|year=2024}}</ref>

[[Image:Lophius-americanus-aquarium.jpg|thumb|right|200px|American angler (''[[Lophius americanus]]'') at the [[New England Aquarium]]]]