(Levanger - The Trondheim fjord / 16 meters / 7.29.2010)

Phylum: Chordata

Superclass: Gnathostomata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Perciformes

Family: Anarhichadidae

Scientific name: Anarhichas lupus

 

Norwegian: gråsteinbit

Distribution: There are three species of wolffish, also called catfish, along the coast of Norway. The grey wolffish - also known as Atlantic wolffish, is by far the most common of them. It can be found on any depth, down to 450 meters. It is most frequent on sandy or muddy substrate in the fjords, but I have encountered them between algae on rocky and exposed locations as well.

Characteristics: Typical for the Atlantic wolffish is grey skin color with darker transversal stripes along the body. Juveniles often have a brown tint. Like the other Wolffishes, it has one long dorsal fin along the entire body length. The Atlantic wolfish may reach 20 kg and a length of 120 cm.

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