Strange and ferocious-looking, the goosefish has fascinated people for centuries. According to legend, its common name derives from the belief that it could swallow a goose whole. Fishermen were often disturbed by the animal when they brought them up in their nets and sometimes referred to them as "sea-devils." They are flattened anglerfishes that lie still on the muddy ocean bottom and ambush their prey. Like other anglerfishes, the head of the goosefish is enormous in comparison to the rest of the body. It has a wide mouth lined with numerous bands of long, curved teeth. Both the head and body are depressed, giving the fish a flattened profile which enables it to hide on the ocean bottom. The top of the body is dappled to further camouflage it.