Head to head
Fanfin Anglerfish vs Triplewart Seadevil
Both species share the fused-male strategy common to several deep-sea anglerfish, but each stands out for a completely different reason.
| Fanfin Anglerfish | Triplewart Seadevil | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Caulophryne jordani | Cryptopsaras couesii |
| Distinguishing feature | Extremely long, filament-covered sensory fin rays | Three wart-like caruncles on its head |
| Global distribution | Not documented as unusually wide | Found in every ocean except the polar seas |
| Males per female | Typically one fused male | Sometimes several fused males at once |
| Body texture | Fragile and gelatinous | Not documented as unusually fragile |
| Sensory strategy | Long filamentous fin rays plus a glowing lure | A glowing lure alone |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Fanfin Anglerfish vs Triplewart Seadevil: common questions
Which one can support multiple fused males on a single female?
The triplewart seadevil is the one documented carrying several permanently fused males on a single female at once, more than the typical single attached male seen in the fanfin anglerfish and many other anglerfish species.
Which one has unusually long, filament-covered fin rays?
The fanfin anglerfish is the one with this feature, its extraordinarily long, filament-covered fin rays thought to function as a sensory array for detecting the faintest vibrations of nearby prey.
Which one has the wider global distribution?
The triplewart seadevil has the wider documented distribution, found across nearly every ocean basin in the world except the polar seas, a range not specifically documented for the fanfin anglerfish.