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Definition of stoplight loosejaw
stoplight loosejaw
Plural:stoplight loosejaws
• noun
1
A small, predatory deep-sea fish belonging to the genus Malacosteus, characterized by a highly flexible, open-floor lower jaw and the rare ability to produce and perceive red bioluminescence, which it uses as an invisible spotlight to hunt prey in the dark ocean depths.
Example
"Marine biologists were thrilled to capture footage of a stoplight loosejaw using its red bioluminescence to illuminate tiny crustaceans in the pitch-black depths of the abyss."
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stoplight loosejaw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stoplight%20loosejaw