Picture of a wolf eel4/30/2023 ![]() ![]() The aquarium exhibits wolf eels in its near-shore tunnel, as well as in its lumpfish exhibit. An easier way to view the animals, sans wetsuit, is at Aquarium of the Bay. ![]() Wolf eels can be found in cold waters along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to the northern tip of Baja, as well as in the Sea of Japan. Their strong jaw and sharp teeth come in handy for cracking open or crushing shells to scoop out the meaty insides. Wolf eels primarily dine on hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, mussels and sea urchins, with an occasional hankering for small fishes. Once hatched, animal care ends as the larval wolf eels drift in the open ocean and the partners return to their cave-potato lifestyle. The animals only leave the lair to hunt, and they take turns when they do, to ensure the eggs are protected at all times. Once in place, the male will coil around her (the aquatic form of spooning) to provide additional protection for the eggs.ĭuring the approximately four months it takes for the eggs to hatch, the female continues to protect the eggs, helping to keep them oxygenated by circulating water around them. A female lays up to 10,000 eggs at a time, quickly curling her body around them for protection. Then, he wraps himself around her until she releases her eggs, and he releases sperm. Once it moves into deeper water, wolf eels pair up with a mate, typically at around age four, and find a cozy cave to live out their days and years in, leaving only either for food or against their will-if a larger cave-loving animal such as an octopus decides to move in.Īfter a long courtship, at approximately age seven, the male wolf eel will first romantically butt his head against the female’s. As it matures, the animal loses its bright-colored beauty, adapts to deeper water lifestyles and becomes gray, with dark spots and blotches to help provide camouflage. As a juvenile, the animal is vibrant orange and red colors, and can be found in shallow subtidal zones. ![]() The coloring of a wolf eel changes dramatically throughout its lifetime. Wolf eels also have deep-set eyes that are somewhat hard to see inside the folds of their soft and fleshy skin. A long, ribbon-like body and sharp canine teeth at the front of very powerful jaws are two other defining characteristics of the animal’s anatomy. The defining factor on these animals is the presence of pectoral fins. Wolf eels, also known as wolf fish, are not true eels (and nowhere close to wolves, either) but prickle backs. “Each of our wolf eels has its own personality, which comes out from feeding and caring for them.” “Wolf eels are incredibly charismatic,” said Aquarium of the Bay’s John Krupa. While many aquatic animals never even interact with their mates, but instead release gametes, or eggs and sperm, into the open water, wolf eels are known to find one partner for life. In the love-infused month of February, one of the animals most devoted to not just sex in the sea but true and everlasting love-or at least a lifetime companionship-is the wolf eel, Anarrhichthys ocellatus. ![]()
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