Wolf-eel
Wolf-eel
Anarrhichthys ocellatus
Max. size: 2.4 m for 19 Kg
Geographical distribution:
Northern Pacific
Biology:
This fish owes its name to its mouth, which is equipped with formidable canines. It likes to eat molluscs, crustaceans and especially sea urchins, which it crushes in its powerful jaws.
Similar to an eel, it has no ventral fins or swim bladder; it propels itself through the water by undulating its body.
Its head is endowed with a huge mouth edged with fat lips – in short, it has all it needs to be pleasing to the opposite sex during sexual displays. It loses all its teeth after reproduction but these grow again afterwards. The female is oviparous and lays thousands of eggs which are closely guarded for 3 months by the male and female in turn.
Because its skin is firm enough to be worked, the wolf-eel is used to make leather objects.
