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Threespot eelpout (Lycodes rossi) — Zoarcidae

Threespot eelpout

Lycodes rossi
Family: Zoarcidae

The Threespot eelpout (Lycodes rossi) is a saltwater fish of the family Zoarcidae that grows up to 31 cm.

Length
31 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
42.0–365.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Threespot eelpout is an eelpout (Zoarcidae) from cold, deep waters of the cold waters around Antarctica. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate, eel-like, pale to greyish body with a largely scaleless, slimy skin and long, confluent dorsal, tail and anal fins. As a sluggish bottom-dweller of the cold deep water it snaps at small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Threespot eelpout?

The Threespot eelpout has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Threespot eelpout live?

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

How big does the Threespot eelpout get?

The Threespot eelpout grows to a maximum of about 31 cm.

Is the Threespot eelpout dangerous to humans?

No, the Threespot eelpout is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ross' puitaal sourced
English name
Threespot eelpout sourced
Scientific name
Lycodes rossi
Family
Zoarcidae
Other names
Threespot eelpout verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
31.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
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 Lycodes

More from the family Zoarcidae

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