As it matures, the animal loses its bright-colored beauty, adapts to deeper water lifestyles and becomes gray, with dark spots and blotches to help provide camouflage. As a juvenile, the animal is vibrant orange and red colors, and can be found in shallow subtidal zones. The coloring of a wolf eel changes dramatically throughout its lifetime. Wolf eels also have deep-set eyes that are somewhat hard to see inside the folds of their soft and fleshy skin. A long, ribbon-like body and sharp canine teeth at the front of very powerful jaws are two other defining characteristics of the animal’s anatomy. The defining factor on these animals is the presence of pectoral fins. Wolf eels, also known as wolf fish, are not true eels (and nowhere close to wolves, either) but prickle backs. “Each of our wolf eels has its own personality, which comes out from feeding and caring for them.” “Wolf eels are incredibly charismatic,” said Aquarium of the Bay’s John Krupa. While many aquatic animals never even interact with their mates, but instead release gametes, or eggs and sperm, into the open water, wolf eels are known to find one partner for life. While these slower-moving, curious fish are always an exciting sight for divers, it is important to respect the animal’s space.Ĭheck out below to see the amazing transition in colouring between juvenile and adult wolf eels in this Hakai Wild video.In the love-infused month of February, one of the animals most devoted to not just sex in the sea but true and everlasting love-or at least a lifetime companionship-is the wolf eel, Anarrhichthys ocellatus. They are also often accidentally caught by fishers. Wolf eels are not at risk in British Columbia, but they still face threats like pollution, which can negatively affect the health of their environment (like kelp forests) and decrease prey populations. Other wolf eels and octopuses are often looking for crevices and holes to have their dens, so there can be fierce competition and battles for the best spots ( video). When wolf eels reach sexual maturity and find a mate, the two must find their perfect den to spend the rest of their life. Photo: Jackie HilderingĪn unusual behaviour of these ancient-looking fish is that they mate for life! Monogamy isn’t common practice in the ocean, with plenty of fish in the sea and all, but wolf eels make it work. Above is the upper jaw of a wolf eel with bony, tooth-like projections. This diverse diet helps sustain the wolf eel’s enormous (wolf-like) appetite. Wolf eels have teeth on the roof of their mouths to be able to crunch even the toughest of shells. This is true, but along with fish, wolf eels use their large teeth and massive jaws to prey on hard-shelled invertebrates like mussels, crabs and even spiny sea urchins. The large teeth and jaws of the wolf eel may have you thinking they would be successful fish predators. A wolf eel swims into a hole in the rocks using its long body. The body shape and movement of a wolf eel is similar to another eel-like fish we discussed a few weeks ago, gunnels. This body shape lets them slide into dark crevices and move stealthily along the seafloor. Wolf eels still have pectoral fins like most fishes, but the rest of their elongate body looks very eel-like. And yes, I said fish! Even though their common name suggests that they are an eel, wolf eels ( Anarrhichthys ocellatus) are part of the wolffish family and not true eels. While their bulbous heads and large, toothy mouths can look frightening, these fish are generally slow-moving and sedentary. Well, maybe not to their prey, but with divers, they tend to shy away in their caves and peek out. Hidden in the darkness of the deep, wolf eels are not as dangerous as they look according to The Marine Detective. Sea Discovery: Wolf eels, the not so terrifying “wolf-ish” fish
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