Ferocious Appearance, Gentle Soul: The Wolf Fish

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It could be a nightmare for a kid, but these guys actually make friends with humans.

The only thing the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) has in common with wolves is that it has sharp teeth and a strong jaw to help it tear apart its prey. His teeth are so prominent, in fact, that some even protrude from his mouth, giving him a creepy and funny appearance at the same time, at least by human standards.

But those huge chompers have a purpose. The fish use them to dig into the sediment on the ocean floor for food and break through the hard shells of crabs, urchins, clams and more. In addition to its teeth, the Atlantic wolffish can be recognized by its elongated, eel-like body.

Found on both the west and east coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, this fish is a benthic inhabitant that lives on the hard ocean floor to about 2,000 feet and is frequently seen in nooks and small caves. And he has a special trick! Your system produces antifreeze to keep your blood moving smoothly. It also needs it, since it lives in water temperatures from -1 to 11 °C.

And that’s not the only thing that makes this creature so unique!

Whereas most species of fish “air spawn” (females release thousands of eggs into the water and males compete to fertilize them externally), wolffish pair up and fertilize the female’s eggs internally, which means They mate in the same way that mammals mate. And the relationship does not end there.

Depending on the water temperature, the female incubates the eggs for four to nine months, then lays them in large groups. After that, the male aggressively guards the eggs for about four months until they hatch.

Despite their creepy appearance, these fish are very affectionate with humans! And for this reason, some divers seek them out and often befriend their local Wolffish. Well check this out.

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