![]() ![]() ![]() Instead of depositing the eggs offshore for the male fish to fertilise them, the female fertilises them internally and the male wolffish stays in the nest and protects the eggs for four months or until the brood is strong enough to be independent. The way in which the Atlantic wolffish fertilises its eggs distinguishes it from many other fish. Pairs form in spring/summer and lay their eggs in September/October. Rocks, broken terrain and small underwater caves provide shelter and space for nesting. It is a solitary, sedentary species until it bonds in pairs for breeding at the age of 5 or 6 years. ![]() They have a natural resilience and prefer lower water temperatures. In Maine, they survive at depths of 110 m and temperatures range from 0 to 11.1 degrees. They eat no other fish.Īlong the New England coast, the densest populations inhabit the cold, rocky waters of the southwestern Gulf of Maine. The six strong conical teeth with three rows of crushing teeth devour crabs, snails, clams, scallops, lobsters, whelks and hard or spiny invertebrates. The most distinctive feature of the wolffish is the large mouth structure, with canine fangs that protrude even when closed. It has a long, wavy body, varying in colour between brownish-purple, dull olive green and bluish-grey. The largest specimen measured is one and a half metres long and almost 18 kilos. The Atlantic wolf fish is also known as the wolf fish, Atlantic catfish, ocean catfish, devil fish and wolf eel, all names that reflect the characteristics of this unique species. ![]()
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