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Arctic rockling (Gaidropsarus argentatus) — Lotidae

Arctic rockling

Gaidropsarus argentatus
Family: Lotidae

The Arctic rockling (Gaidropsarus argentatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Lotidae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
150.0–2260.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Arctic rockling is a cod-like fish (family Lotidae) of the northern Atlantic and Arctic waters. The species reaches about 35 cm and has an elongate, brown-silvery body with barbels around the mouth. It lives epibenthically on soft bottoms of deep, cold water, usually on gravel, sand, mud, shells and stones, at temperatures near freezing. Its diet consists of small crustaceans, worms and small fishes. Because of its life in deep, cold water the species is little studied. It is of modest value as bycatch and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Arctic rockling?

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

Where does the Arctic rockling live?

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

How big does the Arctic rockling get?

The Arctic rockling grows to a maximum of about 35 cm.

Is the Arctic rockling dangerous to humans?

No, the Arctic rockling is harmless to humans.

Is the Arctic rockling edible?

The Arctic rockling is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Arctische meun sourced
English name
Arctic rockling verified
Scientific name
Gaidropsarus argentatus
Family
Lotidae
Other names
Arctic rockling; Artic threebearded rockling; Silver rockling verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
150.0 verified
Max depth (m)
2260.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gaidropsarus

More from the family Lotidae

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