Atlantic footballfish

Himantolophus groenlandicus

Fish
IUCN: Least concern

Usual depth16–930 m
Water temperature1–29 °C
Best monthsJune and September
How commonRare

Photo credit: (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

About this species

Himantolophus groenlandicus, the Atlantic footballfish or Atlantic football-fish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Himantolophidae, the footballfishes. This fish is found primarily in mesopelagic depths of the ocean. Despite its name, this species might not be restricted to the Atlantic Ocean, with its range possibly extending into the Indian Ocean and to the Pacific Ocean. It is found in tropical and temperate regions.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Himantolophus groenlandicus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 3 records
February: 4 records
March: 1 records
April: 0 records
May: 2 records
June: 6 records
July: 4 records
August: 4 records
September: 7 records
October: 2 records
November: 2 records
December: 2 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 16–930 m · Deepest record: 1,646 m

0–10 m: 3 records
10–20 m: 3 records
20–30 m: 0 records
30–40 m: 0 records
40–50 m: 1 records
50–60 m: 0 records
60–70 m: 1 records
70–80 m: 0 records
80–90 m: 0 records
90–100 m: 0 records
100–110 m: 1 records
110+ m: 22 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 1–29 °C

0–2 °C: 1 records
2–4 °C: 0 records
4–6 °C: 1 records
6–8 °C: 1 records
8–10 °C: 5 records
10–12 °C: 3 records
12–14 °C: 4 records
14–16 °C: 1 records
16–18 °C: 2 records
18–20 °C: 1 records
20–22 °C: 2 records
22–24 °C: 10 records
24–26 °C: 4 records
26–28 °C: 7 records
28–30 °C: 2 records

Photos

Names and classification

English: Atlantic footballfish, Atlantic football-fish, Atlantic Football-fish, Man-gobbler

Names in 3 more languages

Spanish: Pez diablo ovalado del Atlántico, pez melón
French: football fine-lampe
Japanese: チョウチンアンコウ

Other scientific names: Corynolophus globosus, Himantolophus ranoides, Himantolophus reinhardti

Similar species

Prickly Deepsea Anglerfish
Himantolophus appelii
Himantolophus stewarti

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
181 open-data records from 1930 to 2020.
Species data updated November 3, 2026.

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