![]() They are an Arctic species (and have a type of antifreeze in their bodies that keeps their blood flowing fluidly to withstand the sea temperatures below 0☌), preferring colder waters, and are more generally found from northern Norway down through Iceland the Faroe Islands Shetland and Orkney Islands, northern Scotland and all the way to the Farne Islands and perhaps farther south. ![]() Their jaws are able to extend when attacking larger prey such as sea urchins, lobsters and crabs. But these fish are not aggressive at all rather, they will shy away from divers’ lights and hide deeper inside their lairs.īehind these visible primary canine teeth are a cluster of five or six smaller canines, as well as three sets of crushing molars on the roofs of their mouths, which they use to crush and pulverise their food. These fish are well-named, quite obviously because of their protruding canine-like front teeth, which give them a ferocious appearance. They do swim, but in an undulating way like true eels! The etymology, or route name Anarhichas, is from the Greek, Anarhichaomai, which means “to climb up,” suggestive of the species’ behaviour, as the fishes use their large pectoral fins to propel themselves over the seabed, and in and out of rocky crevices. The wolffish’s Latin name, Anarhichas lupus, describes this fish as lupus (“like a wolf”) due to its very obvious and protruding teeth. This marine reserve is now part of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Special Area of Conservation-one of the largest marine conservation areas in Europe. I was instrumental in founding the first marine reserve in Scotland at Eyemouth, and around ten years later, co-founded the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (now renamed the Berwickshire Marine Reserve). The wolffish is perhaps the most iconic of all the marine fish to be found within the Berwickshire Marine Reserve, located in the southeast of Scotland. The body length is around 1.5m (5ft), and the head is in proportion to the rest of the body. This wolffish species is commercially raised by fish farms in the United States and Canada, which appears to be fairly successful as a percentage are being reintroduced into the wild. I am not sure about these sightings as they appear quite far south, but like all animals and fish, they then turn up when and where you least expect them. ![]() There have apparently been a couple of sightings recorded off southeastern Scotland and northwestern Ireland. This species is located off northern Russia and the Scandinavian coast, all the way to the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia. Spotted wolffish or leopardfish ( Anarhichas minor) It only grows to 144cm (4.7ft) long and weighs around 20 kilos.Īnarhichas minor, Nova Scotia, Canada. The head of this species is small compared to the rest of its body, which is quite rotund. It is very occasionally found in the North Sea, but surprisingly it is also found in deep waters in the Bay of Biscay. Northern wolffish ( Anarhichas denticulatus)Īlso known as the broadhead wolffish, bull-headed catfish, or catfish, this species is confined to the North Atlantic from Spitsbergen, and Scandinavia, south to the Faroe Islands and Shetlands, Greenland and southwest to Sable Island off Nova Scotia and the Grand Banks. Usually over 2m long (6.5ft), the rear portion is quite tapered. Their lips were very pronounced around their elongated teeth. The males were a steely grey and the females a dull brown. This large species is found in the northern Pacific, and I encountered this species at eastern Vancouver Island around Nanaimo. Wolf eel pair, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, Vancouver Island.
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