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Eelpout (Lycodes raridens) — Zoarcidae

Eelpout

Lycodes raridens
Family: Zoarcidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Eelpout (Lycodes raridens) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 84 cm.

Length
84 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The marbled eelpout is an eelpout from the cold waters of the northern Pacific and adjacent Arctic seas. The species grows to about 84 cm and has an elongate, rearward-tapering body with long, continuous dorsal and anal fins and a mottled colour pattern. As a bottom-dweller it lives on soft bottoms of the continental shelf and slope, between about 10 and 400 metres, and hunts small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eelpout?

The Eelpout has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Eelpout live?

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

How big does the Eelpout get?

The Eelpout grows to a maximum of about 84 cm.

Is the Eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Eelpout is harmless to humans.

Is the Eelpout edible?

The Eelpout is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schaarstand-puitaal verified
English name
Eelpout verified
Scientific name
Lycodes raridens
Family
Zoarcidae
Other names
Marbled eelpout verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
84.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled 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)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 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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