WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Atlantic wolffish

Anarhichas lupus

Also known as: Atlantic Catfish, Catfish, Devilfish, Ocean Catfish, Ocean Whitefish, Seacat, Seawolf, Wolfeel

Adult
@fishx6 · Deep Sea Fishing in the Arctic Ocean, Iceland · June 20171 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, over rocky areas, sheltering in the same spot amongst crevices in the rocks, until a larger wolf-eel or a large octopus drives them out!
Widespread Northeast Atlantic, Northwest Atlantic, Northwestern Mediterranean

Wolf-eels live in cold waters of the oceans, they differ from true eels because of their paired gill slits and Pectoral fins.
These eels are gentle giants of the sea and are curious but rarely aggressive although if cornered they can inflict a painful bite! They are known to pair for life.

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How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, over rocky areas, sheltering in the same spot amongst crevices in the rocks, until a larger wolf-eel or a large octopus drives them out!

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyAnarhichadidae
    6. genusAnarhichas
    7. speciesAnarhichas lupus Linnaeus, 1758

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Perciformes