Cold Water
Wolf Eel
Anarrhichthys ocellatus · Bony fish — family Anarhichadidae (wolffishes); an elongated wolffish, not a true eel
Wolf-eels are the gargoyles of the Pacific Northwest — huge gray heads, swollen jowls, teeth like broken crockery — and among its gentlest residents. Not true eels but elongated wolffishes, they pair long-term and share a den, sometimes two faces stacked in one crevice watching the water column go by. The crushing dentition is for urchins, crabs, and clams; divers get curiosity instead, and pairs at well-known dens will ease halfway out to inspect visitors. Juveniles look like a different species, burnt orange with a purple sheen, swimming open water before settling into rock. The old practice of hand-feeding urchins to resident pairs has faded for good reason — fed animals lose caution, and teeth meet fingers by accident. Come in low and off to one side, and let a swimming wolf-eel pass; it is likely commuting between dens.
Waar en wanneer je er een kunt zien
"Resident" betekent dat je ze bij de meeste duiken op die bestemming tegenkomt; "seizoensgebonden" betekent betrouwbaar aanwezig in de vermelde maanden; al het andere is een bonus, geen garantie.
| Bestemming | Betrouwbaarheid | Maanden | Notities |
|---|---|---|---|
| British ColumbiaCanada | Resident — seen on most dives | Het hele jaar door |
Beste maand, in één oogopslag
| Maand | Betrouwbare bestemmingen |
|---|---|
| January | British Columbia |
| February | British Columbia |
| March | British Columbia |
| April | British Columbia |
| May | British Columbia |
| June | British Columbia |
| July | British Columbia |
| August | British Columbia |
| September | British Columbia |
| October | British Columbia |
| November | British Columbia |
| December | British Columbia |
Ze begrijpen
Habitat: Rocky reef dens, wrecks, and boulder jumbles; established pairs keep the same crevice for years, at depths divers visit and far below.
Verspreidingsgebied: North Pacific — from southern California through British Columbia and Alaska to the Sea of Japan.
Gedrag: Pairs share a den long-term, often with both heads visible at the entrance; juveniles are orange with a purple sheen and swim open water before settling. Resident pairs grow tolerant of familiar divers.
Dieet: Sea urchins, crabs, clams, and snails crushed with heavy molar-like teeth and powerful jaws.
Grootte: doorgaans rond 1.8 m; gedocumenteerd tot 2.4 m (total length).
Hoe je je ertegenover gedraagt
Approach a den low and slightly to one side, skip the old urchin hand-feeding routine entirely, and give a free-swimming animal the lane — it is commuting, not fleeing.
Behoud
Not a fishery target and not considered broadly threatened; den fidelity makes known pairs locally precious and easy to disturb.
Gekende duiksites waar je ze tegenkomt
Bekijk
Via de officiële kanalen
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Sink or Swim? with Monét X Change | Monterey Bay Aquarium
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