Wolf eel

The wolf eel was first formally described in 1855 by the American physician and ichthyologist William Orville Ayres with the type locality given as San Francisco Bay in California. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Anarrichthys, which was also described by Ayres in 1855. This is one of two genera in the family Anarhichadidae, the other being Anarhichas. ==Etymology==

The wolf eel's genus name Anarrhichthys combines the wolffish genus Anarhichas, as this taxon has a similar head shape to the wolffishes, and ichthys, which means "fish". The specific name ocellatus means "ocellated", a reference to the eye-like spots, or ocelli, on the dorsal fin and body. ==Description==

A. ocellatus differs from true eels, as they have paired gill slits and pectoral fins. The animal can grow up to in length and in weight. Males have large lips and a protuberance on the superior part of the head. The lifespan of this species is about 20 years. ==Reproduction==

Wolf eels have a monogamous relationship and tend to mate for life and live in the same cave. They reproduce from October until the end of winter, beginning when they are around seven years old. The male places his head against the female's abdomen and wraps around her, while she extrudes the eggs, up to 10,000 at a time, which he then fertilizes. She coils around the eggs, using her body to shape the eggs into a neat sphere, roughly the size of a grapefruit. The male then coils around her. Together they protect the eggs, and only one leaves the cave at a time, to feed. ==Ecology==

Distribution A. ocellatus is found in caves, crevices and rocky reefs from shallow waters to a depth of , ranging from the Sea of Japan and the Bering Sea to Northern California. and are rarely aggressive, but are capable of inflicting painful bites on humans. Diet This eel-like fish feeds on invertebrates with hard shells (crustaceans, sea urchins, mussels, clams) and some fishes, crushing them with its strong jaws. The eggs and juveniles can be threatened by more species. The juveniles are vulnerable as they are not very large and do not have powerful jaws. Fish such as rockfish and kelp greenling will prey on the juveniles. ==As food==

The wolf eel has edible, sweet and savory white flesh. In some coastal northwest Native American tribes, the wolf eel was referred to as the sacred "doctorfish". Only the tribal healers were allowed to eat this fish, as it was supposed to enhance their healing powers. ==References==