The Angler Fish »
So the other night, my stepson asks me about this fish he saw in Finding Nemo. Normally I might not share such a tale, because it's probably only memorable to our family - but the answers found from this innocent question were pretty impressive indeed.
You see, the alleged fish has a light on it's head and huge fangs. I don't know about you, but I'd never heard of such a beast. In fact, I thought it sounded like someone had been having a little fun in the animation room. I even made the mistake of mentioning that it might not be completely real!
You can imagine my surprise when I finally found a picture of the fish in question. That's a freaky fish indeed, and it seems that very little imagination would be necessary to get this fellow looking like a scary fish!
So I looked around some more and found all sorts of information, including this little tidbit that seems to provide all the information you might need (sorry, link died). You see, apparently this vicious beast is the female of the species! And you thought human women were bad! Luckily they only live at depths of 1,600 to 10,000 feet!
The luminous organ on her head actually attracts her prey. She can vibrate the thing, too, presumably to attract prey if they're blind. The worse part is that the male of the species lives only to bond himself to the body of the female and provide his seed so that the species may continue. He's also a lot smaller and not quite as strange looking,
I even found a picture of a live one (or a recently live one - about halfway down the page). Strangely enough, this beast is not the ugliest creature in the ocean. No, that honor belongs to the Fangtooth, a fish so bizarre, that he actually has sheaths in his head for his teeth to slide into when his mouth closes (about one-third of the way down the page)!
And that's not all - don't skip the main creature feature, more creatures and still more creatures. Pages courtesy of the Norfanz Voyage web site.
Comments (210)
Thank you, thank you, thank you.... My son has also been asking me about that fish. I am a teacher, so I was impressed by the authenticity of "Finding Nemo" AND am happy that my son finds science information so interesting, BUT... I thought I would have a difficult time finding information and photographs. Thank you for making this task simple..... David is only 6, so too much information is not needed!
Posted by Sarah Woody | September 3, 2003 6:11 PM
actually i don't believe it was an angler fish. To me it seemed to be the species known as the viper fish. Check it out.
Posted by hmmm | September 10, 2003 5:03 PM
I don't think that you're correct with the viper fish designation. Check out this link for a pretty up-close picture. The mouth is similar, but there's no lure on the head, and the fish in Nemo certainly had one. It was it's defining characteristic, in fact. Or did you think she (the fish, that is) carried a flashlight?
But don't take my word for it. There are a number of folks much smarter than myself who claim that the fish in Finding Nemo was indeed an angler fish. I found a grand total of two who ID the fish as a viper fish (or viperfish). Of course, maybe everyone else is just wrong. But I'm thinking not in this case. Especially since Disney/Pixar claim that it's an angler fish on their token site (#10).
Posted by Chad Everett | September 10, 2003 5:23 PM
I like to see one angler fish in my life
Posted by stephanie | October 8, 2003 11:16 AM
It is an Angler Fish that was in the movie "Finding Nemo," I was doing a school project (11th grade Marine Science) on a fish of my choice. I have always been interested in this fish, so, I chose it. I would just like to second the fact that it IS a Angler Fish, or Lophius Piscatarius, that was in "Finding Nemo." Thanks.
Posted by nobody | October 15, 2003 8:28 PM
I believe I can shed a little light on this subject. Deep water fish have been of interest to me for some time and when I saw Finding Nemo last night I was a litte confused. From my understanding the fish in question is actually a hybrid of the angler and viper fish. The animators evidently decided to include characterists of both fish. The fish in the movie probably exists, but it hasn't been found yet.
Posted by Jess | October 17, 2003 5:26 PM
Obviously, if you'd watch the Discovery channel you would know that the angler fish has already been found live with the help of special submersibles.
You can visit this web site to see some pictures of angler fish pictures taken Dr Peter Herring while on board the RS Discovery Vessel. Apparently there's about 120 different species of it.
Posted by Someone | October 24, 2003 11:57 PM
Someone - I think that Jess is saying that the fish in the film is actually a cross somewhere between the viper fish and the angler fish, and that that cross-fish hasn't been found yet.
I still lean towards the fish being an Angler, though I'm certainly interested to hear about other possibilities. Also, thanks for the link - always nice to see some new pictures!
Posted by Chad Everett | October 26, 2003 4:54 PM
I stumbled on this site doing a search for angler fish. I had seen something in a magazine on a plane about them, and it reminded me of them. Im an avid fish breeder, and had always been interested in anglers. There are 4 general classes of anglers: batfish, goosefish, shallow-water anglers and deap-sea anglers. If you want to see a scary fish, go a google search for "goosefish"...Pretty amazing.
Posted by cheesebeer | October 27, 2003 9:17 AM
Wow - definitely a pretty ugly fish. Some interesting facts and a picture at this site. They eat not only other fish, but birds and turtles. According to this link, they can actually swallow fish that are equal to their own weight. Very impressive indeed!
Posted by Chad Everett | October 27, 2003 9:26 AM
i'm just doing a school report
Posted by Carolina | November 5, 2003 9:03 AM
its the angler fish, not the viper fish in nemo. they just made it even more scarier looking by making the teeth longer shaper and pointier.and the fish bigger then they are in real life. in real life the angler fish , about the size of a tennis ball! maybe a softball. not 50 times bigger then the clown fish in nemo .also its the females that hunt like that not males and they hardly swim like in the movie she mainly lays around waiting for a unsuspecting victim to go for her "lighted" lure. males are even smaller then clown fish, Adult male clown fish grow to be about 2 to 4 inches. see impossable to be 50 times the size!
Posted by pete | November 6, 2003 12:37 AM
Thanks for a good website and info :) My kids were also fascinated with the deep sea angler fish on Nemo.
I think the confusion of this fish with the viper fish happens because there are so many different types of (deep sea) angler fish... the one in Nemo could just be a combination of a couple of them. I have included a link to another picture of a deep sea angler fish that looks a little different to the picture you have a link to.
But anyone looking at this picture of the actual fish in question on Nemo should be able to tell that she is some type of angler fish. One of the website I read on these fish said that the female fish actually absorbs some of the internal organs of the male fish once he has joined with her... freaky.
Posted by Petal | November 6, 2003 4:15 PM
Thank You everyone for your comments!
Posted by Tami | November 6, 2003 9:55 PM
Yes, it is an Angler fish in "Finding Nemo". I actually talked to one of the animators on the project. I never knew anything about this cool fish until then, If you don't believe me, buy the DVD and watch the commentary at that part.
Posted by mindlesssurfer | November 8, 2003 12:50 AM
Good links to information my daughter needed on the angler fish. I noted some of the negative comments. Glad you accepted them and moved on. Well done, thanks for your help.
Posted by Kim | November 9, 2003 3:11 AM
My 6 year old daughter and I were also interested
in the ugly fish in the movie Finding Nemo. My search led me to your site. It is definitely an angler fish!! I looked at the picture of the Viper fish that hmmm referred to and it has long sharp teeth like the angler fish BUT the main difference is that the viper fish is long like an eel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I thank you sir for your information, that is correct! Mr. hmmm needs to get HIS facts straight!!!!! Mily
Posted by Mily | November 9, 2003 6:43 PM
Hey!! Try to remember it's just animation. It's like you would argue over what breed of rabbit Bugs is for crying out loud!!!
By the way, my vote is on the Angler theory.
Posted by Biggdady | November 9, 2003 11:28 PM
I have to say that i think your site is fantastic. It was just what i was looking for - with great pictures and info. Pity about the disagreements but i guess you get that in any comment forum! Anyway.. good site and good job :)
Posted by Samantha | November 10, 2003 8:11 PM
I was wondering if anybody could tell me what kind of fish are the black ones that school and get caught in the fishing net in Finding Nemo.
Thanks, Peter
Posted by Peter | November 11, 2003 9:45 PM
Indeed, I agree with jayseae and pete. The angler fish from finding nemo is indeed a deep- water angler fish that lives on the dark waters of the darkness zone. The teeth in the movie was the teeth of a viper fish. Though, since there are over 200 species of angler fish, I might not be surprised that there is actually an angler fish that looked like the movie and you never know what phenomenon creatures live in that zone.
I am a junior at a University and studying marine biology for my doctrines, and I can guaranteed you that the fish from the movie is an angler fish. The light on the female head does light to attract their preys and the light is full of bacteria. I wish I can show you pictures and proof, but I can't even insert a link on this text. Does anyone know how to include a link of pictures and information on this exact text?
Posted by aquachick | November 11, 2003 10:19 PM
I like this site a lot. I saw Finding Nemo for the first time this weekend and I thought that fish was pretty amazing.(Yes I'm 15 and still I liked that movie) So I started to look up on it and I came across this site. But just to put my two sense in I believe that it is an Angler Fish in that movie. I agree with Pete. I believe they just tried to make it more scary looking by adding longer sharper teeth. I looked at the picture of the Viperfish and it looks much smaller than the Angler and it's shaped more like and eel. Sorry I didn't put any pictures on I don't know how to. -Keagan
Posted by Keagan | November 12, 2003 5:04 PM
Thanks for the great site. I needed to research the anglerfish for school and after researching for days I began to give up and think that my teacher was crazy.But finding your site I recieved many intresting facts. Actually there are four types of anglerfishes, the batfish,goosefish,frogfish, and deep sea angler.
And the male lives as a permanent parasite on the female, and is totally dependent on the female for nourishment. Also the angler fish can grow up to 4 feet long. The dark skin of the anglerfish absorbs the light and does not reflect it, so it remains invisible in the blackness. Also I find the rude comments very immature because any information is still helpful even if some is partially incorrect.Thanks again for all the help! Age 12
Posted by Nobody u know | November 12, 2003 11:17 PM
I had to do some digging to find out anything about the "black (fish) that school". I think these might be the moon fish, but I'm not certain. I put together a separate entry for the full answer, simply because it got a bit unmanageable as a comment. Please let me know what you think!
Posted by Chad Everett | November 13, 2003 12:58 PM
Check out this link.
I think the fish is in fact a Viperfish. Viperfish, like anglerfish, have a "lure". In the case of the Viperfish it is luminescent just like in the movie. Viperfish also have large eyes and huge needlelike teeth.
More proof.
Quote:
The viperfish, Chauliodus sloani, has such lengthy lower fangs that they don't even fit in its mouth, but rather project back dangerously close to the eyes. No Chauliodus has ever been photographed in its natural habitat, but a scientist who saw one from the window of his bathyscaph off Portugal reported that it hovered "head upwards, the long axis of its body making an angle of about 45° to the horizontal plane. The whiplike dorsal ray was inclined forwards so that the tip dangled in front of the mouth. Here, surely, is good circumstantial evidence for deep-sea angling."
And even more.
The picture on this site looks very much like the one in the movie.
Quote:
The viperfish is also bioluminescent, with photophores--light-emitting organs--on its dorsal fin and along its body to lure its prey to it. The fish has been observed hovering in place in the water with its dorsal fin curved around so that its photophore is waving near its mouth, as a means of drawing prey. Because the viperfish's body is dark blue or black in color, it is thought that other fish can see no part of it other than its lights.
Posted by Olis | November 16, 2003 2:23 PM
Olis, those are some really great links. Unfortunately the data within, and even the information you present in your comment, works against your argument that the fish in Nemo is an Angler.
The information mentions the viperfish is bioluminescent, but it also mentions that the photophores are found on the dorsal fin and along the body.
According to Webster's dictionary, a fin is described as being used in propelling or guiding the body, or even something resembling a fin as a hand or arm. The fish in Nemo clearly had a dangling "lure", which certainly could not have been used for propulsion, and that no one should mistake for a hand or an arm of any sort.
Still, some very good links. I especially enjoyed your NOVA link, which also includes some images of anglers, clearly illustrating the dangling nature of the lure. Thanks again!
Posted by Chad Everett | November 16, 2003 4:41 PM
O.K. poeple. Let's remember that this is a cartoon. Animators will take one or more kinds of things and blend them together to make them look meaner than an original. Such is the case with this "angle-viper fish". I believe, as someone mentioned before, that the fish in the movie is made up of both angler and viper, or it could have been drawn right from the animator's head. It doesn't need to be argued over though, but it is nice to try to recocnize it for the kids.
Posted by Don | November 17, 2003 12:37 AM
True,none of my links said the Viperfish is a true anglerfish. Several did however state that they had been observed dangling the long "whiplike" dorsal fin in front of their face to attract prey. Watch the movie again, the fish also has photophores along its body. I agree though, the fish in the movie is a cartoonish exaggeration and I'm sure it wasn't meant to represent an actual fish.
Posted by Olis | November 17, 2003 2:53 AM
Great information on your web site! I too began my search on this mysterious fish after watching Finding Nemo with my 5 year old daughter.It's been an interesting and informative search.
My guess is that the fish in the movie is an imaginary cross between a deep sea angler and a viper fish.
I came to this conclusion based on the pictures and information I found on numerous web sites.
Most searches I did told me that the viper fish has photophores on it's body and from the fin dangling from it's head. The angler fish only has the photophore from it's head.
They're both pretty freaky looking!
I would've never believed such a fish existed.
Posted by Lorie | November 18, 2003 4:35 PM
Great info, I had just watch the Nemo movie and i thought that the movie was great. When they said that the fish was an angler fish i looked it up and found this site. Great site. Lots of info and pics. Keep up the good work!
Posted by Jessie | November 18, 2003 7:56 PM
The fish that get caught in the net at the end of Finding Nemo are grouper.
Posted by umm | November 19, 2003 12:27 AM
The fish in the net could indeed be grouper. Thanks umm. Here's one link that mentions hundreds of thousands of grouper. I also found this picture that is allegedly a grouper - and I think that this could pass for the fish in the net (obviously embellished a bit for the movie, but still very similar).
Posted by Chad Everett | November 19, 2003 9:18 AM
As a few people have said before me; This is a Cartoon. The creature is probably fictitious. I think it is fictitious, as in the movie, the spine of the Fish lights up after Marlin and Dori see the teeth. Also the fish has VERY FREAKY GIANT GRAY EYES! Which neither the Viper Fish or Angler Fish have.
My conclusion: It's a fictitious fish, that was probably inspired by the Angler, and then had large teeth added to it to make it look scarier.
PS: I also found this site when looking up the Fish in the Movie. Hehe, I just love that movie. And right before they get to the 'Angler Fish' scene they're in the dark, and Dori asks "Are you my conscience?" after hearing Marlin's voice... Heheh, I just love that movie...
Posted by YourNickname | November 22, 2003 12:04 AM
I came across your site because I was also fascinated by this fish in Finding Nemo. I thought it was a made up fish. But I have the Finding Nemo story sticker album which describes it as an Angler Fish which is obviously what Disney believe it is. If you want to know what all the other fish are, get hold of the sticker album.
Thank you for your information.
Posted by Kat | November 22, 2003 1:22 PM
I also agree on the anglerfish story. There are lots of information on the internet and it SURLEY isn't a viperfish. They are too long. I found a very queazy picture but I won't post it. I am only 13 but for heavens sakes......its not a viperfish and I also have done a project on teh anglerfish and that is definitly an anglerfish. Rude comments shouldn't be accepted and I really don't understand the argument over a fish. I too asked my mother what fish that was and we looked it up together. Thank you for your time. I was facinated about this fish and I came across this web site and I thought I would give in a comment.
~A "Finding Nemo" Lover
P.S. Don't out in rude comments. It's only a web site!
Posted by Peachy | November 22, 2003 2:27 PM
Its me again and I thought I would add a few things to my comment. I think rude comments are unexeptable and you shouldn't write those type of things on a thing such as this. The fish on Nemo is definitly an anglerfish. I think some people need to get their facts straight. I don't think they even looked it up and just assumed. I am not always going to be on here so if you would like to comment on this or if you agree or disagree please contact me at wrapfalg@yahoo.com.
Thank you and have WONDERFUL day!
Posted by Peachy | November 22, 2003 2:46 PM
After much research, I am lead to believe that the fish is indeed an angler fish. I have observed that the vapor fish, has a more elongated figure than the fish on Finding Nemo, which body seems to be a smaller and stout figure, taking after that of the angler fish, and the jaw shape seems to match, the only thing that seems to be different would be the size and the length of the teeth, which could likely just be exaggerated for an effect. But in truth it is just a cartoon and I am pretty sure the world will still go around if I or any other person is wrong, ok? So please, try and be nice, and don't provide rude comments. It isn't a big deal. ;)
Posted by Sadie | November 23, 2003 2:13 PM
I work at Pixar and can confirm she is an angler fish. Reality, not surprisingly, is much better than fiction which is why we steal from it.
I must say I it was fun to see so much interest in this character.
Someone should start a thread on clown fish as the dominate one changes sex to a male and keeps the others subdued by force. Not stuff that we could actually write into the story :)
Posted by pixarWorker | November 24, 2003 12:40 AM
The commentary on the DVD states that it is indeed an Anglerfish. Straight from DVD commentary: "Anglerfish were for me the scariest darn fish I've ever seen in a National Geographic magazine. I used to turn the pages faster you know I'd like try to skip past those pages when I was looking through those magazines as a kid. I think really it's the one thing on our planet that's the closest to being a real monster. Such a pleasent name for a fish. Anglerfish! Aye I'm fishin' fer something. But it's pretty amazing they do exactly, well not as entertainly but they do pretty much what's happening in this movie. They have an antenna with bioillumiscent fluid that glows in the dark and it attracts other fish then when they get close enough they kinda come outta the dark and you know just chomp 'em up."
Posted by ninja | November 24, 2003 2:21 AM
Thanks everyone for all the research you have done. I too remember reading National Geographic as a kid and seeing pics of the Angler Fish. I have always been fasinated by all the amazingly freaky things that live in deep waters. Who knew a cartoon movie could make so many people want to learn new things. But I think it's great. hope everyone keeps learning new stuff. :)
Posted by lunachik | November 24, 2003 11:37 PM
Okay dudes and dudets... I was just looking for a picture of "the scary fish on finding nemo" to put on one of my oil paintings for my class and thanks to this web site I found out the name, ANGLER FISH, not viper fish but the viper is pretty scary itself and i am going to use that picture as well as the giant rattail, fangtooth and anglerfish, im glad that all of you had this argument because i was so entertained and found more than what i was looking for and for the record ... on the dvd of finding nemo it says it is a angler fish ... in the illistrations part or whatever. have a good one and thank you very much
* Thankful
Posted by Lynn | November 27, 2003 9:25 PM
First of all I would like to thank you for this info, my child was watching Finding Nemo and I also questioned if it was a real fish. Second I would like to make a comment to the rude person who said it was a viperfish it is absolutely incorrect. Not only does it not have a lure, but if you have the dvd of Nemo and go to the scene selection it says it is an angler fish.
Posted by Danielle | November 28, 2003 1:58 PM
I thought the fish looked pretty creepy so I looked it up and it was just as scary in real life as it is in the movie. Thank you for the info it helped a lot.
P.S.
The movie was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Maria | November 29, 2003 1:32 PM
BOTTOM LINE!!!!!
The fish in Nemo that is in question is BASED on the Angler Fish, but Pixar has taken some liberties on the design. The two defining aspects that the fish is based on the Angler include: 1) The movie says its an Angler (hey, they drew the thing) AND 2) The fish has the tell-tale hanging "light" OVER its mouth (not very viper-like). However, the Pixar people made some "enhancements' to its Angler fish to make it more intense looking. 1) Added LONG, overlapping sharp teeth, similar to an Viper fish, that overlap (angler does not have very long teeth), 2) Added very LARGE EYES that bulge (not in proportion to the body size of a true angler or viper), and 3) Added an elongated body, with a distinctive, almost lobster-esk look (definitely not the classic tennis ball round body of an angler and not exactly the long, snake-like body of the viper).
THAT's the BOTTOM LINE! Thanks everyone for an interesting chat and links!
Posted by JayDee | November 29, 2003 1:56 PM
Hey guys! I love your comments! Can you believe I read all of them?! I think it's cool how people are trying to stop people from making rude remarks but not only that, but people saying IT IS AN ANGLER FISH or IT IS A VIPERFISH. Come on people...we all have different opinions! Say you believe it is blah blah blah. kk?
Thanks for the comments. They really help.
Posted by ahoy maties | November 30, 2003 9:45 PM
Look at this scary picture of the angler. It's the second picture with captions. Read the captions too...it's nasty!
Posted by ahoy maties | November 30, 2003 9:47 PM
I happen to know that the fish in finding Nemo is an angler fish. We recently purchased the DVD and there's an option to watch the entire movie with commentary which I did, and that particular scene with the fish chasing Nemo, they do mention the name of the fish as an angler fish. So there. From the pixar animators themselves
Posted by Gina | December 1, 2003 6:04 AM
Just because the Pixar animators say it's an Angler fish doesn't make it factual or you an expert. The fish apears to be an Angler fish with some creative liberties taken by the animators. Bottom line is there is no fish that looks exactly like the deep sea terror in Finding Nemo, and this debate will continue to rage on!
Posted by JB | December 1, 2003 11:08 AM
Thank you I am doing a project on anglerfish and this is very interesting and helpful.
Posted by Barry | December 1, 2003 8:03 PM
Even Elmo knows what an Angler Fish is. Just check out Elmo's World Great Outdoors DVD.
Posted by Mimi G | December 1, 2003 10:15 PM
yeah, i have to do a report on the angler fish for school and this website wasn't too helpful. what's the point of it any way? i'll keep looking for INFORMATION
Posted by Sarah | December 3, 2003 8:10 PM
guys i think u can stop saying it's a angler fish now. no one is een saying it's a Viper fish any more. u'r point has been made over and over again. it's in the DVD commentary for crying out loud. let it go, both of u. and the sadest part of all s that i now have been scked into this.
Posted by early in the morning | December 4, 2003 3:12 AM
Actually there are four different types of Angler fish and ONLY the Deep Water Angler lives toward the bottom of the ocean. The others live rather close to the surface; no worries though because very few can survive in American waters. They are only found in thier true living grounds around the U.K. and other Eastern Hemisphere countries.
Posted by Stefanie | December 6, 2003 6:02 PM
You all are insane....FINDING NEMO IS AWESOME!!!! : )
Posted by P. Sherman | December 6, 2003 11:42 PM
THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH ON MY PROJECT!!!! THANKS A MILLION!
Posted by Z | December 9, 2003 8:08 PM
THX, THIS SITE RULES!
Posted by YO COOL | December 9, 2003 8:10 PM
Hi everyone, I'm 21 (and I love the film too!) I'm currently studying a bit of aquatic biology and thought it might interest you to know that deep sea anglerfish can range in size from 10cm to up to 1m! http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/fish/angler_fish.shtml">This is a pretty good link for some basic info. There's a short video on there too.
Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming....
Posted by Katy | December 10, 2003 5:47 AM
This is my responce to the second reply: It wasn't a viperfish. It WAS an angler fish. If you look VERY carefully, it has no lights in it's mouth. Also, the angler fish's mouth was closed as it approached. Viper fish keep their mouths open when they swim. They attract fish with their mouths. Their outer skin glows like the anglerfish, but they don't have a lure. Plus, the viperfish's eyes are further to the sides, while some species of anglerfish have eyes next to eachother like in Finding Nemo. If you look at a lot of stuff, you might find one with eyes like that. Try watching Blue Planet on discovery channel, they recenthy showed a deep-sea special one. Anyways, [fill in blank].
Posted by Gunnar | December 11, 2003 8:16 PM
Ok - the exsistance of the Angler Fish was piqued by seeing my son's Finding Nemo DVD. Where as I'm not so interested in whether or not the Angler Fish is correctly represented in the movie - hey its a movie, who cares about correct representation - I AM wondering if this is the fish that experts thought was extinct and recently found. If NOT does anyone have the correct name of the fish in question and may I have it please?
Thanks - temporary suspension of disbelief, its what movie makers hope for in their audiences for just a few hours. (source-film class at U of Montana)
Posted by sisterjane | December 12, 2003 6:03 PM
Hi again, I think the fish you're asking about might be the coelacanth which is refered to as a 'living fossil'.
I did a quick google search and this page looks like it has some good info:
http://www.dinofish.com
Posted by Katy | December 13, 2003 12:21 PM
Just had to get in my two cents... ok I'm good
Posted by angler expert | December 19, 2003 12:46 PM
I was trying to prove a point to my wife, when I stumbled over this site. AWESOME! If any of you are old enough to remember the Childcraft Encyclopaedias, there is one called, "Deep Sea Creatures". This book is circa 1976, and has wonderful info on the anglerfish found in "Finding Nemo"; so I've known about the anglerfish since I was 6. Because of that book, when my wife asked what kind of fish it was, I knew right away.
Posted by Daywalker | December 20, 2003 10:24 PM
OK, I was mistaken, it's the 1979 Childcraft anual, titled "Story of the SEA", so I was 9 when I learned of it(you can do that math). The angler is found on page 139, with an illustration of it on page 140. Unlike some have mentioned the angler is NOT a newly discovered spieces! Mention is even made in this book about the fish mentioned here that can swallow fish much larger then itself. Find someone who has these books and look for yourself. Being a packrat pays off, and although well used, my "World Book- Childcraft International" books are still in xcellent shape and help me teach my OWN 12, 10 and 2 year old, the things I loved to learn about at their ages.
Posted by Daywalker | December 20, 2003 10:40 PM
it is an angler fish, the reason i started looking is because my sons nemo book specifficialy stated the angler fish was after them.
Posted by b | December 31, 2003 2:14 AM
TY so much i have been needing information about this fish its so weriod and exiding. i have done so much on this fish and i need more information it is jsut so amazing to me
Posted by matt | January 7, 2004 5:52 PM
I am doing a report on angler fish
Posted by Bob | January 8, 2004 5:13 PM
I thought it looked like a cross between an angler and a lantern fish at one point the entire back bone lights up like a runway I didn't thing anglers could do this?
Anyone know what Dori is?
Posted by k | January 8, 2004 8:18 PM
Interesting hypothesis, k - the lantern fish apparently have bodies posessing "patterns of light producing organs that light up as they swim". Interesting.
This link has a diagram of one, and it doesn't really look like the fish in Nemo, but that doesn't mean that the designers didn't get some of their ideas from it. This page also says that the lantern fish swim to the surface at night. We didn't see that, but again it doesn't mean that parts of the fish weren't used.
Dori is apparently a Blue Tang. MIT used to have a great site with information on the different species in the movie. Unfortunately, no Angler. Plus they seem to have taken it down. Or perhaps moved it.
Posted by Chad Everett | January 9, 2004 8:35 AM
While watching Nemo with my son for the thirtieth time, I too was amazed by the angler fish. I remember on a trip to Cape Cod, we stopped by the Mystic Aquarium and the theme this summer was Finding Nemo, Surprisingly they didn't have much information on the angler fish, though one tour guide did mention that the angler fish does exist in the deep sea, though not as large or as agile as the one in the movie. I found your site to be informative as well as pleasant. Thank you.
Posted by Curious Mom | January 10, 2004 7:45 PM
Hey...Nice site. You guys r right...It is indeed an angler fish. Whoever dissgreea obviously never passed the third grade. I Havent read everything present, just like half way down. I think this is a good site with fine information. I am constantly watching the discovery channel and looking at these fish for my own pleasure. I have seen a show on the discovery channel referred above about the submerrsive going to depths to see these fish.
Posted by Ryan C. | January 16, 2004 3:19 PM
Hi
I also thought that Finding Nemo was an excellent movie not only in plot but ininformation.I am a 4th grade teacher and I took aside one class to talk about each of the fish mentioned in Finding Nemo. Your info has helped my class of 8 and 9 year olds to understand sea life a little better!
Elizabeth McEnroe
Posted by Elizabeth | January 17, 2004 6:16 PM
Alrite! This rules! Not only did I find out about Angler fish but I finally found out what kind of fish Dori is, which is what I was looking for in the first place...
Posted by PrincessCris | January 20, 2004 1:55 PM
It was an angler fish in finding nemo. I know this first by saying that the fish in finding nemo was a fishlike shape. Viperfish are snakelike and have their lure start a bit longer along their body. I know this because I am kind of obsessed in the fish which live in the Abyssal zone (the zone in the ocean where it is ice cold, pitch black, extremely high pressure and from 6000 ft to just above the ocean floor) and I am particularly intrested in the angler. Usualy, the viperfish is always a page or two near the anglerfish.
Posted by andrew | January 21, 2004 12:31 AM
Oh my Gosh!! your website is great! To tell you the truth, the only reason i went looking for the Angler Fish on the Internet is because i saw it on Finding Nemo!!! You have an amazing site!
Posted by Emily | January 21, 2004 1:13 AM
I wonder what kind of fish the little green fish that eats the Angler in the very end is? Its after the end credits. I mean, the angler is maybe 100x bigger than the lil green guy, but the lil green guy swallows the Angler in ONE bite. Not only that, but after its meal, the lil green guy is back down to the same size as before. talk about Metabolism.....this fish could be worth studying.....diet development.....just think, eat 100X your weight in food and not gain an ounce. (If you couldn't tell, the point I'm making is that this movie is a work of fiction, and not neccessarily factual, although many of the fish are based off of real life. Look at the lil octopus thing.....thought they had longer tentacles...And on the DVD...CH 11: Anglerfish :)
Posted by DougK | January 22, 2004 8:49 PM
DougK,
You make a good point above. But just in case you REALLY wanted to know, the fish at the end of the movie is a Gobi Fish. Being a certified diver, I see tons of them when I go on trips. Oh and yes angels, blue and yellow tangs, clowns, octopus, green turtles, parrotfish, green moray eels, stingrays, sea stars (not starfish), puffer fish, anenome, tons of coral and even a rock fish (very poisonous). And yes you are right the movie is a work of fiction to make us all laugh and have a good time. Amazing how everyone above became so passionate on identifying the anglerfish in the movie. I can't believe it took seeing a strange animated creature in a movie to prompt people to educate themselves. People should really know more than they do these days. Sadly, the dumbing down of America has begun.
Posted by riggswb | January 26, 2004 5:14 PM
I don't think America is dumbing down. Many people have just never heard of this fish before, so they never knew to look for it. It doesn't mean that they haven't looked for other fish or other exciting things. That's why we are all here...to learn. ;) Lastly, weather it's an Angler, Lantern, Viper, or "whatever" fish, look at how much we have learned just out of our curiosity. I now know about all these fish, including the fangtooth and others. Thanks for all of the great info.
By the way, I believe it's an Angler fish, it not only says in commentary, but in scene selection. Also, when I was about 5, (I'm 23 now) my father bought me a book called the ABC's of Nature, I saw that fish and could never forget it. (Who could?) So when I saw Nemo, I knew what it was. I was proud to know what it was, and came online to learn more. And who's to say, there are so many different creatures and species down in the depths of the abyss that we don't even know about. One species of the Angler could be out there just like the one in Finding Nemo. Thanks for the great site!
Posted by Ang | January 27, 2004 1:30 PM
Ang,
I understand your comments above. The "dumbing down" I speak of goes way beyond an anglerfish many fathoms below the sea. With you being a young lass or lad (23) you will understand what I am talking about as you begin to put a few more wise years on yourself. Obviously you have the curiosity to learn while some others don't. I applaud you for that. Everyone above had the curiosity to learn about the anglerfish. My whole point is why did it take a Pixar animated "super" cartoon to create the curiosity? Watch the discovery channel or Nova on PBS, read, do more with your mind than just rely on fictional movies or other media, it's just that simple.
Posted by riggswb | January 29, 2004 12:31 PM
Dori is a Blue Tang or better known to Aquarium owners who have them as a "Hippo Tang".
Posted by Nemo | January 30, 2004 5:37 PM
It's an angler, please do your research before commenting on the net. Sigh, if you actually looked at the above links that everyone advertised, you would see it's an angler fish. We just made her a bit scary.