Vahl’s eelpout – Lycodes vahlii

Lycodes vahlii, commonly known as the Arctic eelpout, is a species of fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, which encompasses the eelpouts and wolffishes. This species is a relatively common inhabitant of the cold, deep waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Description & Characteristics

Lycodes vahlii, like other eelpouts, exhibits an elongated, snake-like body with a rounded head and a pointed snout. The dorsal fin extends almost the entire length of the back, merging seamlessly with the caudal fin. Similarly, the anal fin is also long and continuous with the caudal fin. The color of Lycodes vahlii is typically a mottled brown or gray, providing excellent camouflage against the rocky seabed where it resides. This species can reach a maximum size of 52.0 cm in length.

Habitat and Occurrence

Lycodes vahlii is a benthopelagic fish, meaning it inhabits the bottom layers of the ocean. It has a broad depth range, typically found between 39.0 and 1200.0 meters. This range encompasses both the bathyal zone, which extends from the edge of the continental shelf to the abyssal zone, and the abyssal zone itself, the deepest part of the ocean. Due to its wide depth distribution, Lycodes vahlii encounters a variety of marine environments, including rocky reefs, mud bottoms, and sandy plains. It is commonly found in the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the waters surrounding Iceland, Greenland, and the Norwegian Sea.

Taxonomy

Lycodes vahlii belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Perciformes, and Family: Zoarcidae. Teleostei is a diverse group of ray-finned fishes, representing the vast majority of bony fishes. The Order Perciformes is the largest order of vertebrates, containing over 10,000 species including perches, basses, and wrasses. The Zoarcidae family, known as eelpouts and wolffishes, includes around 200 species of primarily benthic fish, many of which inhabit cold waters.

Feeding

Lycodes vahlii is a carnivorous fish, feeding primarily on invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms, and smaller fish. It actively hunts for prey on the ocean floor, using its sensitive barbels to detect movement and locate food in the darkness. The fish’s diet varies depending on the availability of prey in its specific habitat.