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Giant wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteus) — Cryptacanthodidae

Giant wrymouth

Cryptacanthodes giganteus

The Giant wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteus) is a saltwater fish of the family Cryptacanthodidae that grows up to 117 cm.

Length
117 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–128.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The giant wrymouth is an elongate, eel-like bottom fish (Cryptacanthodidae) from cold coastal waters of the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 1.2 metres and has a strongly elongate, scaleless, pink to drab body with a large, obliquely upturned mouth and high-set eyes. As a bottom-dweller it digs tunnels in soft mud and silt bottoms and snaps from them at small crustaceans, worms and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant wrymouth?

The Giant wrymouth has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Giant wrymouth live?

The Giant wrymouth lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Giant wrymouth get?

The Giant wrymouth grows to a maximum of about 117 cm.

Is the Giant wrymouth dangerous to humans?

No, the Giant wrymouth is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Reuzen-kromsnoek sourced
English name
Giant wrymouth sourced
Scientific name
Cryptacanthodes giganteus
Family
Cryptacanthodidae
Other names
Giant wrymouth verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
117.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
128.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Cryptacanthodes

More from the family Cryptacanthodidae

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