Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Anarhichadidae (Wolffishes)
Etymology: Anarrhichthys: Greek, anarhichaomai = to climb up + Greek, ichthys = fish; ocellatus: ocellatus for the eye-like spots.. More on author: Ayres.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 1 - 226 m (Ref. 2850). Temperate, preferred ?; 80°N - 26°N, 118°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 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. 115185)

Not Evaluated

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 2850)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

More information

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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 1.0312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00398 (0.00174 - 0.00913), 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. 69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7; Fec=10,000).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Very high vulnerability (85 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Anarrhichthys ocellatus Ayres, 1855