![]() The effects of climate change and global warming can pose risks to this cold-water species. Since it is a slower growing species, even small declines in population can pose significant threats to the species since it can take longer to replace individuals than we see in other species of fish. Since Atlantic wolffish are keystone species in Atlantic food webs, the health and abundance of their populations is important to study and manage. Once they reach their juvenile stage, wolffish are much more solitary and they reach maturity when their bodies reach their maximum size. They stay near their hatch sites at the bottom of the ocean during the larval stage and it can take a few hours to one week before the larvae are ready to venture into the water column, where they are pelagic for two weeks to two months. It can take between three to nine months for the fish eggs to hatch after being released, which is also based on water temperature. They have an opaque, yellowish tint and clump closely together, which promotes warmth. ![]() This intensive level of parental care is rare among fishes.Ītlantic wolffish eggs are the largest of any fish, with diameters of 5.5 to 6 millimeters. Once the males start to protect their eggs, they stop feeding and become extremely aggressive towards anything that comes into their territory, even other wolffish that are not their mates. Females hold their eggs in utero for four to nine months and release them when water temperatures are just right. The Atlantic wolffish utilizes internal fertilization to reproduce, which is significantly different from the broadcast spawning of most other fish species. Wolffish form breeding pairs in spring to summer and mate in the fall. They live at depths between 66 and 1,640 feet in cold water as low as 30☏ to 52☏ (-1 to 11☌) and their bodies produce a natural antifreeze that allows them to survive and remain active in nearly freezing waters.Ītlantic wolffish can live as long as twenty years old and have a late maturity cycle, being incapable of sexually reproducing until they are eight to ten years old. This species is benthic, meaning that they live along the hard, rocky ocean floor and nest in small caves or nooks. The largest populations occur in the Great South Channel, Georges Bank, and the Gulf of Maine, and they are found in and near Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Their range spans the northern Atlantic Ocean, venturing as far north in the western Atlantic as the Davis Strait, Nunavut territory in Canada. To hunt, wolffish use ambush predation in which they remain still and attempt to blend into their environment so unsuspecting prey will approach them when they come close enough, the wolffish lunges, using their teeth to trap and their jaws to crush their prey.Ītlantic wolffish spend most of their time in a particular home range, but they do leave that range to find colder waters that are more suitable for spawning season. These fish are keystone species, which means their predation keeps other animal populations – like urchins, green crabs, and starfish – in check and their ecosystems in balance without Atlantic wolffish, these populations could grow too quickly and lead to smaller populations of important species that build the foundation of marine and coastal food webs. Common prey species include hermit crabs, urchins, green crabs, clams, and starfish. The strong jaws and large teeth that Atlantic wolffish have allow them to feed on hard-shelled organisms like crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. This species can grow to be six feet long and weigh as much as 50 pounds! ![]() They have multiple rows of specialized teeth, which they lose and replace annually due to the damage their hard-shelled prey can cause over time.Ītlantic wolffish appear in a range of colors from olive-green, purplish-brown, or a striking blue-gray and a single dorsal fin span’s the fish’s entire back, and another spanning from its tailfin and along its ventral side. ![]() Their most notable features include the large teeth that protrude from their mouths even when closed. Known as wolf eels, Atlantic wolffish have long and slender eel-like bodies. ![]() The good news is that these incredible fish are pretty shy around humans and won’t use those chompers to bite unless they are provoked. Their intimidating appearance is matched by their voracious appetites and aggressive hunting strategies. Photo credit: NOAA Office of National Marine SanctuariesĪtlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) are often confused for eels thanks to their long, eel-like bodies, prominent teeth, and affinity for rocky habitats, but they are actually more closely related to sculpins than eels. ![]()
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