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Black eelpout (Lycodes diapterus) — Zoarcidae

Black eelpout

Lycodes diapterus
Family: Zoarcidae

The Black eelpout (Lycodes diapterus) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 33 cm.

Length
33 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
146.0–844.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The black eelpout is an eelpout (Zoarcidae) from the cold, deep waters of the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 33 cm and has an elongate, dark, eel-like body with a continuous fin margin from dorsal to anal fin. As a bottom-dweller it lives on soft bottoms of the continental shelf and slope between about one hundred and fifty and eight hundred metres and eats small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black eelpout?

The Black eelpout has a snake-like body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black eelpout live?

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

How big does the Black eelpout get?

The Black eelpout grows to a maximum of about 33 cm.

Is the Black eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Black eelpout is harmless to humans.

Is the Black eelpout edible?

The Black eelpout is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte puitaal verified
English name
Black eelpout verified
Scientific name
Lycodes diapterus
Family
Zoarcidae
Other names
Black eelpout; Blackfin eelpout; Black-finned eel-pout verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
33.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not 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 Lycodes

More from the family Zoarcidae

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