Anarrhichthys ocellatus, Wolf-eel : fisheries, aquarium

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Related species
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  Anarrhichthys
- Species in
  Anarhichadidae
- - Classification -
- Anarhichadidae
- Perciformes/Zoarcoidei
- Teleostei
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Anarrhichthys ocellatus Ayres, 1855

Wolf-eel

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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050

This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Anarrhichthys ocellatus AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

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Image of Anarrhichthys ocellatus (Wolf-eel)

Anarrhichthys ocellatus
Picture by DeCloux, R.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) > Anarhichadidae (Wolffishes)
Etymology: Anarrhichthys: Greek, anarhichaomai = to climb up + Greek, ichthys = fish; ocellatus: ocellatus for the eye-like spots.
More on author: Ayres.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 1 - 226 m (Ref. 2850). Temperate; 80°N - 26°N, 117°E - 111°W (Ref. 57366)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

North Pacific: Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to the Krenitzen Islands, in the Aleutian chain and Imperial Beach, southern California, USA.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 240 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4925); max. published weight: 18.4 kg (Ref. 27436)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 200. Dorsal with 228-250 spines. Caudal small. Anal with up to 233 rays.

Adults seek shelter among rocks in subtidal areas (Ref. 2850) and will occupy the same shelter until driven out by larger wolf-eels or a large octopus (Ref. 28499). Juveniles are pelagic for up to two years (Ref. 28499). Feed on hard-shelled invertebrates and fishes (Ref. 2850). Both male and female wrap their body around the egg mass to keep the eggs in place and to deter predators (Ref. 58332). Large specimens can inflict a painful bite (Ref. 28499). Its flesh is tasty (Ref. 28499).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

When courting, the male wolf-eel butts his head against the female's abdomen, wraps around her, and fertilizes her eggs as she extrudes them. Eggs are laid and both male and female wrap themselves around the egg mass to protect it . Only one parent at a time leaves the eggs to feed. The female periodically rotates the eggs until they hatch. A male and female may pair for life (Ref. 28499).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 14 December 2020

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 2850)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
Diet composition
Food consumption
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Predators

Ecology
Ecology

Population dynamics
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Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
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Life cycle
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Maturity/Gills rel.
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Distribution
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Anatomy
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Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 1.2 - 10.5, mean 4.7 °C (based on 485 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 1.0312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00398 (0.00177 - 0.00897), b=3.17 (2.97 - 3.37), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.5 ±0.53 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7; Fec=10,000).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 12.2 [6.7, 26.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.23 [0.12, 0.46] mg/100g; Protein = 17.9 [15.8, 19.8] %; Omega3 = 0.307 [0.169, 0.537] g/100g; Selenium = 27.5 [14.0, 56.6] μg/100g; VitaminA = 5.19 [1.56, 17.30] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.393 [0.268, 0.590] mg/100g (wet weight);

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