Family Anarhichadidae

Wolffishes

Selected Characters: Body elongate in our species; pelvic fins absent; dorsal fin long, containing only weak spines with no soft-rays; gill membranes joined to ishthmus.

This small family is found in the northern Pacific and northern Atlantic. There are about five species and just one, the large and elongate Wolf-Eel, is found in Puget Sound. This fish lives on the bottom in subtidal zones, often among rocks and in caves or crevices. It is not commercially significant, although it reaches a huge size of up to 2.5 meters long. Wolf-Eels feed mostly on hard-shelled invertebrates and occasionally on fishes, and with their powerful jaws are capable of inflicting a painful bite. Wolf-Eels occur with moderate frequency in Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Species

Anarrhichthys ocellatus Wolf-Eel