Monkfish

n. any of a type of shark of the genus Squatina; type of saltwater fish

Monkfish is used as an English name of distinct number of types of fish in the northwest Atlantic notably the species of the anglerfish genus Lophius and the angelshark genus Squatina. The term is also occasionally used for a sea monster of the sixteenth century more often called a sea monk.Monkfish is the most common English name for the genus Lophius in the northwest Atlantic but goosefish is used as the equivalent term on the eastern coast of North America. Monkfish have three long filaments sprouting from the middle of its head; these are the detached and modified three first spines of the anterior dorsal fin. As in most anglerfish species, the longest filament is the first, which terminates in an irregular growth of flesh, the esca. This modified fin ray is movable in all directions. This esca is used as a lure to attract other fishes, which monkfish then typically swallow whole. Experiments have shown, however, that whether the prey has been attracted to the lure or not is not strictly relevant, as the action of the jaws is an automatic reflex triggered by contact with the esca.
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Noun
1. flesh of a large-headed anglerfish of the Atlantic waters of North America
(hypernym) saltwater fish
(part-holonym) goosefish, angler, anglerfish, angler fish, lotte, allmouth, Lophius Americanus
2. fishes having large mouths with a wormlike filament attached for luring prey
(synonym) goosefish, angler, anglerfish, angler fish, lotte, allmouth, Lophius Americanus
(hypernym) spiny-finned fish, acanthopterygian
(member-holonym) Lophiidae, family Lophiidae
3. sharks with broad flat bodies and winglike pectoral fins but that swim the way sharks do
(synonym) angel shark, angelfish, Squatina squatina
(hypernym) shark
(member-holonym) Squatina, genus Squatina

(n.)
The angler (Lophius).
  

(n.)
The angel fish (Squatina).
  

A saltwater fish of which only the tail meat is eaten.