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The wolf fish is the largest fish in the suborder of blennies. Blennies are long fish that are similar to eels in appearance that have been dated back as far as 50 million years by fossil discoveries. Although some species of blennies live in tropical, subtropical and even fresh water, the wolf fish is one of three families that make their habitat in the cold Arctic waters. Wolf fish have rather fat heads with a large mouth filled with sharp teeth. Their skin has no scales and the dorsal fin on this fish runs the length of its body. Some species, such as the Atlantic wolf fish, have a high commercial value as a food fish. The Atlantic wolf fish is grayish brown in color with dark bands and has a diet that includes starfish, mussels and sea urchins. When eating its prey, this fish will swallow the entire body, shells and all. The prey is then thoroughly chewed with its strong teeth to break it into digestible bits. Cod fishermen often find the Atlantic wolf fish in their nets in large quantities. When this occurs they use extreme caution when handling this voracious predator since it is known to suddenly attack anything, even biting through wood with its teeth.
There are nine species of wolf fish found in the Anarhichadidae family and of the Perciformes order. They are known to reach lengths of around seven feet or longer but often average around three feet in length. In European countries this fish is often commonly called the catfish and is highly popular as a food fish. During most of the year the wolf fish is not a migratory fish preferring to spend its feeding along in deeper waters along the bottoms. But when spring arrives it will make small migrations inland in preparation for the spawning season. Once they have reached the spawning sight they can be observed hiding under large rocks, in deeper holes or even swimming openly. Spawning in most species of the wolf fish will take place during the summer months while other species spawn during the colder months even as late as January. The mating ritual of the wolf fish has been observed as females swimming near the chosen male making contact with their bodies. In response the male, who basically remain inactive, have been observed rolling onto their sides and repeatedly making a U-shape with their bodies.
In most cases the nest consist of deeply depressed areas that are built among the rocks near the bottom. Once the eggs have been internally fertilized, the female wolf fish will deposit her rather large yellow eggs in circular clutches on the rocky floor of the nesting site or between various types of bottom vegetation. Although little is known about how the young are cared for, it is believed that the male guards the eggs until they have hatched refusing to eat during this period. This is indicative of a very protective nature in the male wolf fish, while the female appears to take very little interest after she has laid the eggs. The young larvae stay close to the egg sac at first and then remain near the nesting site feeding on plankton for the remainder of the larval stage. This entire period from hatching to the end of the larval stage will usually last around fourteen months or longer. They will then leave the nesting site swimming out to the deeper waters to begin their adult lives.
Like most blennies, the wolf fish tends to depend more on sight than vibration or smell to locate its prey. Smaller species of blennies have been observed moving toward divers in small leaps. Once they reach the diver they come very close and study them. But the moment they are disturbed they scurry away to hide among the rocks. It is thought that this could be the reason for the attacks on fishermen as they pull the wolf fish from their nets since the fish is likely perceives the human as prey. Certainly with their almost fang-like canine teeth, this is a formidable fish to face in the water or on the surface. Most wolf fish are found in the northern waters of both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans with species including Anarhichas lupus, which is the North Atlantic wolf fish, A. minor which is the spotted wolf fish and Anarhichythys ocellatus which is often called the wolf eel.
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