Wolf-eel
📖 Overview
Adults seek shelter among rocks in subtidal areas and will occupy the same shelter until driven out by larger wolf-eels or a large octopus . Juveniles are pelagic for up to two years . Feed on hard-shelled invertebrates and fishes . Both male and female wrap their body around the egg mass to keep the eggs in place and to deter predators . Large specimens can inflict a painful bite . Its flesh is tasty .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 200. Dorsal with 228-250 spines. Caudal small. Anal with up to 233 rays.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Large wolf eels are curious and are rarely aggressive, but are capable of inflicting painful bites on humans. The male and female may pair for life and inhabit a cave together; the two watch their eggs together and one always stays behind when the other leaves to feed. The animal can bite even after its head has been severed.
🦐 Diet
This eel-like fish feeds on invertebrates with hard shells (crustaceans, sea urchins, mussels, clams) and some fishes, crushing them with its strong jaws. It has been observed in captivity that when they are fed soft food such as squid, they tend to prefer it over hard food, which can damage the back teeth.
🥚 Reproduction
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 .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 1 - 226 m . Temperate; 80°N - 26°N, 117°E - 111°W North Pacific: Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to the Krenitzen Islands, in the Aleutian chain and Imperial Beach, southern California, USA.
🌿 Ecology
hard-shelled invertebrates and fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anarhichas ocellatus | Ayres | 1855 | Synonym |
| Anarhichthys ocellatus | Ayres | 1855 | Synonym |
| Anarrhichas felis | Girard | 1854 | Synonym |
| Anarrhichthys felis | Girard | 1858 | Synonym |
| Anarrichthys ocellatus | Ayres | 1855 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 20 records indexed .
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