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Pale eelpout (Lycodapus mandibularis) — Zoarcidae

Pale eelpout

Lycodapus mandibularis
Family: Zoarcidae

The Pale eelpout (Lycodapus mandibularis) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100.0–1370.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The slendertail eelpout is an eelpout (Zoarcidae) from the northeastern Pacific. The species has a slender, translucent, rearward-tapering body with a continuous fin margin. Unlike many eelpouts it lives in the open water: near the surface at night and to about eight hundred metres depth by day, with a daily vertical migration. It feeds on small zooplankton and small crustaceans. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pale eelpout?

The Pale eelpout has a snake-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Pale eelpout live?

The Pale eelpout lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Pale eelpout get?

The Pale eelpout grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Pale eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Pale eelpout is harmless to humans.

Is the Pale eelpout edible?

The Pale eelpout is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slankkaak-puitaal sourced
English name
Pale eelpout verified
Scientific name
Lycodapus mandibularis
Family
Zoarcidae
Other names
Pallid eelpout verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
100.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1370.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Lycodapus

More from the family Zoarcidae

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