Thaumatichthys

Thaumatichthys
Thaumatichthys pagidostomus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Thaumatichthyidae
Genus: Thaumatichthys
H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Occurrences of Thaumatichthys
Synonyms

Amacrodon Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Galatheathauma Bruun, 1953

Thaumatichthys, the wonderfish or trapjaw anglerfish,:373 is a genus of deep-sea anglerfish in the family Thaumatichthyidae, with three known species. Its scientific name means "wonder-fish" in Greek; oceanographer Anton Bruun described these fishes as "altogether one of the oddest creatures in the teeming variety of the fish world." In contrast to other anglerfishes, the bioluminescent lure (called the "esca") of Thaumatichthys is located inside its cavernous mouth. They are worldwide in distribution and are ambush predators living near the ocean floor.