See text The footballfish form a family, Himantolophidae, of globose, deep-sea anglerfishes found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean.

[1] Reinhardt gave the type locality of H. groenlandicus as being near Godthaab in Greenland where it had been washed ashore.

Reinhardt did not explain this name but it is thought to refer to the thick, leathery illicium of the type species, H.

The metamorphosed females are distinguished from other anglerfishes of the suborder Ceratioidei by having a well developed lower jaw which protrudes beyond the snout.

The esca of footballfishes vary in size and morphology, to a greater extent than other deep sea anglerfishes.

The female footballfish have bioluminescent bacteria in their escas and this is used to attract prey to within striking distance of the mouth.