Wolf-fish

Fact File:

Common Name(s):
Wolffish, Wolf-fish, Catfish.

Scientific Name:
Anarhichas lupus

Usual Size:
up to 120cm

UK Record Weights from rod/line:

Shore:
12.12.08

Boat:
26.04.00

MAFF Minimum Size: Shore: Boat:

Identification:

Breeding:
Wintertime, laying large clumps of eggs amongst stones and seaweed on sea floor.

Habitat:
Offshore, usually at depths of 100 to 300m over rocky substrates

Food:
Mainly shellfish such as crabs, molluscs and echinoderms

Range:
A North Atlantic species found from British Isles in the east to the coast of Maine in the west.

Additional Notes:
commercially fished for in Norway

The head is large and square with a large toothsome mouth, and eyes that are set well forward. The body is laterally compressed and tapers to the small fan-like tail. The dorsal is long, stretching from the head to the caudal peduncle, and the anal fin stretches from the anus to the caudal peduncle. Pectoral fins are large and the pelvic fins are absent. Its back is a blue/grey colour with numerous broad stripes.

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