![]() Their diet includes a variety of starfish, sea urchins, and crabs.īoth the northern and the Atlantic wolffish have strong jaws and formidable teeth. They use their powerful jaws and sharp teeth to hunt and eat spiny or hard-bodied invertebrates. The northern and Atlantic wolffish are voracious predators. Even in public aquariums, the Atlantic wolffish displays the same behavior. This type of parental care is rarely seen among fishes. They leave once the brood is strong enough and gains independence. Male and female wolffish pair up during the mating season, and the males stay with the nest to guard the eggs and protect the larva for up to four months. They don’t just release their eggs and abandon them. The Atlantic wolffish, on the other hand, mates via internal fertilization much like mammals do. When it comes to reproduction, most species of fish scatter hundreds and thousands of eggs into the water, and the males then fertilize these eggs externally. The wolffish is unique in many ways, but perhaps the most heartwarming aspect is the way they breed. The female wolffish spawns large eggs, and both the male and the female guard the eggs until they hatch, a behavior rarely seen among fishes. Unlike most fish, the wolffish mates via internal fertilization. This particular species also secrete five times the amount of antifreeze protein that is produced by its relatives. The Atlantic wolffish, which faces the highest risk of freezing, produces a natural antifreeze that keeps their blood flowing smoothly. It is natural to wonder how the fish survives in such frigid waters. Image credits: Cephas/WikimediaĪs mentioned above, the wolffish prefers cold waters, and it is generally found in regions where the water temperature reaches -1.2 ✬ to 10.2 ✬. The Atlantic wolffish produces natural anti-freeze. Icelanders call the wolffish “steinbítur,” which means “stone eater.” Though the wolffish does not actually devour stones, the name seems to be a reference to their strong teeth and jaws that can easily crush the stone-like, hard shells of crustaceans. The Atlantic wolffish is found everywhere along the coasts of Iceland, and they go by a funny name there. Icelanders has a funny name for the wolffish. The wolffish stays close to the ocean bed, and it is mainly found on hard ground, but the northern wolffish seems to prefer both muddy and rocky surfaces. The wolf-eel, on the other hand, is found primarily in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic wolffish and the spotted wolffish are northern Atlantic species, whereas the northern wolffish is native to the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. The wolffish prefers cool and cold waters and can be found at depths of 300 meters and sometimes more. The wolffish is native to the frigid waters of the Pacific and North Atlantic oceans. On the other hand, the fifth species, called the “wolf eel,” belongs to the genus Anarrhichthys. ![]() Under the genus Anarhichas, there are four species: the northern wolffish, the Atlantic wolffish, the spotted wolffish, and the Bering wolffish. However, there are actually five species of wolffish, and they are divided into two genera. The wolffish belongs to the family called Anarhichadidae, and there are mainly three types of wolffish: the northern Atlantic wolffish, the Atlantic wolffish, and the spotted wolffish. There are five species of wolffish that belong to two genera. In fact, the name wolffish comes from its distinct teeth. In its lower and upper jaw, the wolffish has around six large, stout, conical tusks, and behind that in the upper jaw, you will find three rows of crushing teeth. Perhaps the most striking feature of this fish is its mouth, which is armed with a set of heavy molars and large canine-like teeth. Though there are some slight color variations, the wolffish is mainly dull-colored, and most of them sport a bluish-gray tint. Instead, they are flexible around the tips. The wolffish does not have ventral fins, and its dorsal fin spines are not stiff. They also have a large head, tapered body, slender tail, and one long dorsal fin. For example, these are large-bodied fish, and the largest species can grow up to 7.5 feet long. ![]() Though physical characteristics vary slightly from species to species, certain features are common in all of them. Many would agree that the wolffish has a face that only a mother could love. It is also named after its large, canine-like teeth. Though not particularly good-looking, the wolffish has a distinct appearance.
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