Anarhichas minor Olafsen, 1772
Spotted wolffish
Anarhichas minor
photo by Dolgov, A.

Family:  Anarhichadidae (Wolffishes)
Max. size:  180 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 28 kg
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 25 - 600 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Northwest Atlantic: western Greenland and Nova Scotia in Canada to Massachusetts in USA and perhaps to New Jersey, USA (Ref. 7251). Northeast Atlantic: Spitsbergen southward to Scandinavian coasts (to about Bergen, also Iceland and south-eastern coasts of Greenland.
Diagnosis:  Coloration greyish brown with many distinct spots on body and dorsal fin (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Inhabits offshore waters over soft bottoms, often with boulders, from 25-590 m, but most common from 100-400 m (Ref. 4694). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Feeds mainly on echinoderms, but also crustaceans, mollusks, fishes (Ref. 4694) and worms (Ref. 58426). In Barents sea, it reached at least 80 cm, age 9 years. Marketed fresh or as frozen fillets. Leather can be made of the skin (Ref. 35388).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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