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Blacktail eelpout (Bothrocarina nigrocaudata) — Zoarcidae

Blacktail eelpout

Bothrocarina nigrocaudata
Family: Zoarcidae

The Blacktail eelpout (Bothrocarina nigrocaudata) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
90.0–881.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The blacktail eelpout is an elongate, eel-like eelpout of the family Zoarcidae reaching about 45 cm. The brownish, sparsely scaled body has a continuous fin fringe running over back, tail and belly. The species is adapted to cold, deep water and lives on soft bottoms of the deep northern Pacific. Close to the bottom it slowly searches for small crustaceans and worms. Like other eelpouts it lays relatively few, large eggs that develop slowly in the cold water. Because of its life in the remote, cold deep sea it is rarely caught and little is known about it.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blacktail eelpout?

The Blacktail eelpout has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blacktail eelpout live?

The Blacktail eelpout lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blacktail eelpout get?

The Blacktail eelpout grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 43 cm.

Is the Blacktail eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Blacktail eelpout is harmless to humans.

Is the Blacktail eelpout edible?

The Blacktail eelpout is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartstaart-diepzeepuitaal inferred
English name
Blacktail eelpout inferred
Scientific name
Bothrocarina nigrocaudata
Family
Zoarcidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45 verified
Average length (cm)
42.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Min depth (m)
90.0 verified
Max depth (m)
881.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bothrocarina

More from the family Zoarcidae

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