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Whitespotted eelpout (Lycodes albonotatus) — Zoarcidae

Whitespotted eelpout

Lycodes albonotatus
Family: Zoarcidae

The Whitespotted eelpout (Lycodes albonotatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
150.0–930.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The whitespotted eelpout is an elongate, robust eelpout of the family Zoarcidae reaching about 25 cm. The brownish, sparsely scaled body has a continuous fin fringe running over back, tail and belly, and often bears pale cross-bars or saddle blotches. The species is adapted to cold, deep water and lives on soft bottoms of the cold northern seas. Close to the bottom it slowly searches for small crustaceans, worms, molluscs and echinoderms. 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 Whitespotted eelpout?

The Whitespotted eelpout has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Whitespotted eelpout live?

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

How big does the Whitespotted eelpout get?

The Whitespotted eelpout grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Whitespotted eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitespotted eelpout is harmless to humans.

Is the Whitespotted eelpout edible?

The Whitespotted eelpout is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witgevlekte puitaal inferred
English name
Whitespotted eelpout inferred
Scientific name
Lycodes albonotatus
Family
Zoarcidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
25 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars 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)
150.0 verified
Max depth (m)
930.0 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
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Lycodes

More from the family Zoarcidae

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