This small family of fish contains nine living species. Eight of these are on the Atlantic coast, and these species all posess short bodies and large tail fins. Our Northwest species, the wolf-eel, has a long slender body which tapers to a barely visible tailfin.
All species of wolf-fish have very strong jaws and broad molars which enable them to include clams, snails, crabs, and urchins to their diet. They make their homes in shallow to moderately deep rocky lairs, and are territorial in nature.
The wolf-eel (Anarrhicthys ocellatus)
The wolf-eel is often easily approached by divers; often hand-fed urchin or crabs by erstwhile fishwranglers. It is difficult to mistake the wolf-eel for any other fish, even if only its head is visible within its rocky den. The body is whitish/grayish, sometimes mottled, and is covered indarker colored spots. The head is rather lumpy, with the male having the larger, lumpier head which is usually lighter in color. It has no ventral fins. Juveniles of the species are more brightly colored than their parents, often displaying orange to brown colorations with large spots on most of the body.
Wolf-eels are found in rocky reefs, hiding in crevices to depths to at least 740 feet. Juveniles are pelagic for about two years, then eventually settle into a den. Once they find a mate, which occurs around age four, they share the den. At seven years, they spawn, usually in the fall to winter months. The male wraps himself around the female and fertilizes up to 10,000 eggs as they are laid. The wolf-eel mates for life and will remain in the same den until a larger wolf-eel or octopus nudges them out.
Wolf-eel eat crustaceans, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and sand dollars, as well as fishes, sea cucumbers, snails, and benthic invertebrates. They have been known to feed on octopus.
All species of wolf-fish have very strong jaws and broad molars which enable them to include clams, snails, crabs, and urchins to their diet. They make their homes in shallow to moderately deep rocky lairs, and are territorial in nature.
The wolf-eel (Anarrhicthys ocellatus)
The wolf-eel is often easily approached by divers; often hand-fed urchin or crabs by erstwhile fishwranglers. It is difficult to mistake the wolf-eel for any other fish, even if only its head is visible within its rocky den. The body is whitish/grayish, sometimes mottled, and is covered indarker colored spots. The head is rather lumpy, with the male having the larger, lumpier head which is usually lighter in color. It has no ventral fins. Juveniles of the species are more brightly colored than their parents, often displaying orange to brown colorations with large spots on most of the body.
Wolf-eels are found in rocky reefs, hiding in crevices to depths to at least 740 feet. Juveniles are pelagic for about two years, then eventually settle into a den. Once they find a mate, which occurs around age four, they share the den. At seven years, they spawn, usually in the fall to winter months. The male wraps himself around the female and fertilizes up to 10,000 eggs as they are laid. The wolf-eel mates for life and will remain in the same den until a larger wolf-eel or octopus nudges them out.
Wolf-eel eat crustaceans, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and sand dollars, as well as fishes, sea cucumbers, snails, and benthic invertebrates. They have been known to feed on octopus.
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