The illicium ( " fishing rod " ) of the Butler's frogfish is very long, measuring 24-47 % the standard length, and lacks dermal spines.
32.
This species has a long, filamentous illicium, the " fishing lure " of the anglerfishes, which is tipped with a bulb called an esca which it can illuminate.
33.
They are easily distinguished from other anglerfishes by their possession of a second light-bearing dorsal fin spine immediately behind the illicium ( the bioluminescent lure present in other anglerfishes ).
34.
Rather than typical dorsal fins, the front-most of the three fins is called the illicium or " rod " and is topped with the esca or " lure ".
35.
Like other anglerfish, they possess an illicium, a modified dorsal fin ray above the mouth, but it is short and does not appear to be used as a fishing lure.
36.
Chemical studies of " Illicium " have developed rapidly over the last 20 years, and merrilactone A has been shown to have neurotrophic activity in fetal rat cortical neuron cultures.
37.
""'Illicium " "'is a genus of flowering plants treated as part of the family Schisandraceae, or alternately as the sole genus of the Illiciaceae.
38.
Members of the genus " Illicium " include Chinese star anise, widely used as a spice for flavouring food and beverages, and also poisonous plants such as Japanese star anise.
39.
Also like other anglerfishes, the first spine of the spinous dorsal fin has been modified as an angling apparatus ( illicium ) that bears a bulb-like or fleshy lure ( esca ).
40.
The single genus, " Illicium ", has about 40 species native to sub-tropical and tropical Southeast Asia and the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and parts of Mexico.
