Head to head
Red-lipped Batfish vs Anglerfish
Red-lipped Batfish
VS Anglerfish
Both fish belong to a broader order built around a modified fin-ray lure, but they hunt in very different parts of the ocean using very different postures.
| Red-lipped Batfish | Anglerfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ogcocephalus darwini | Melanocetus johnsonii |
| Locomotion | Walks across the seafloor on leg-like fins | Hangs nearly motionless in open water |
| Lure | A small lure on its head | A glowing bioluminescent lure |
| Typical depth | Relatively shallow coastal water | Deep, sunless midwater |
| Body shape | Flattened, disc-shaped | Round body with a large gaping mouth |
| Distinguishing feature | Bright red lips | Extreme size gap between males and females |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Red-lipped Batfish vs Anglerfish: common questions
Which one lures prey with light rather than a plain lure?
The anglerfish is the one that uses light, its lure tipped with a bioluminescent organ, while the red-lipped batfish uses a small, non-glowing lure on its head to attract prey instead.
Which one walks rather than swims?
The red-lipped batfish is the one that walks, using leg-like fins to move across the seafloor, while the anglerfish instead hangs nearly motionless in open water waiting for prey to approach.
Which one lives in much deeper water?
The anglerfish lives far deeper, inhabiting the sunless midwater of the deep sea, while the red-lipped batfish is found in relatively shallow coastal water around the Galapagos Islands.