Anarhichadidae

Anarrhichthys ocellatus

The Sea Wolves ( Anarhichadidae ) are a family of Aalmutterverwandten ( Zoarcales ). There are marine fish that inhabit the sea floor of the cold, northern Atlantic and the northern Pacific with two other three species. Their diet consists of hard-shelled mollusks, crabs, lobsters, sea urchins and other echinoderms: ( gr ) anar (r ) hichas means " destroyer ".

Features

Seawolves have a moderately elongated, flattened body rear side. Only Anarrhichthys ocellatus has an eel-like, strongly elongated fuselage. The dorsal fin is long and starts right on the back of the head. In the genus Anarhichas it is supported 69 to 88, wherein Anarrhichthys 218-250 soft relatively hard radiation. The anal fin has 42 to 55 soft rays in Anarrhichthys 180-233 soft rays, where a single hard radiation can take the lead in Anarhichas. The caudal fin is not grown together with the dorsal and anal fin. Pelvic fins are missing, the pectoral fins are large and round, with 18 to 24 fin rays. Scales are missing or there are tiny, not overlapping cycloid scales present. A swim bladder is absent. The genus Anarhichas has 72-89 vertebrae, with Anarrhichthys there are around 250

What is striking is the massive head with very strong jaws that are occupied in the front part with conical, sharp fangs and rear with one or two rows of strong molars. On each side there is only one nostril. The sensory canals on the head are well developed, the age, the pores are overgrown.

Seawolves depending on the type 1.12 to 2.40 meters long. A weight of 27.9 kg, is documented.

Fishing

Two Seewolfarten, the Striped wolffish and spotted wolffish, in Europe are considered valuable food fish. Their flesh is firm, while the Blue catfish is aqueous. They are, especially in front of Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland caught as by-catch and come because of their appearance usually only as a fillet on the market. Commercially they are used as Karbonadenfisch, Kat (t ) fish or " wolffish " means (the actual loach but lives in fresh water, is not related to the Seewölfen and is too small as a food fish ).

The Seewolfarten are overfished.

Inside systematics

There are five species in two genera:

Genus Anarhichas

Overall lengths from 1.12 to 1.80 meters. Fins formula: Dorsal 69-88, 42-55 anal fin, pectoral 18-24. 72-89 vertebrae.

• Blue catfish ( Anarhichas denticulatus ) Krøyer, 1845.
• Striped catfish ( Anarhichas lupus) Linnaeus, 1758.
• Spotted wolffish ( Anarhichas minor) Olafsen, 1772.
• Bering wolffish ( Anarhichas orientalis) Pallas, 1814.

Genus Anarrhichthys

Total length of up to 2.50 meters. Fins formula: Dorsal 218-250, Anal (I) / 180-233, pectoral 18-24. Approximately 250 vertebrate.

• Anarrhichthys ocellatus Ayres, 1855.