Eelpouts are usually gray, brown, black, or purple and have spots of various colors. The wolf-eel is the largest fish in this group, reaching a length of 80 inches (2 meters). They usually are less than 16 inches (40 centimeters) long, but some reach a length of 24 inches (60 centimeters). Most eelpouts and their relatives are shaped like eels. _OCEAN POUT ( Zoarces americanus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS Find out more at Mallory Johnson is the Communications Manager at Aquarium of the Bay, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting, restoring and inspiring the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed.EELPOUTS AND RELATIVES: Zoarcoidei WOLF-EEL ( Anarrhichthys ocellatus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS Test out your newfound knowledge and see if you can spot the defining features of a true eel. You can visit the green moray eel, and the two imposters, in person at Aquarium of the Bay. Meanwhile, its pharyngeal jaw will protrude from its throat to grab the food and carry it back down, all within a fraction of a second. When dinnertime rolls around, the moray eel will clamp down on its prey with its first set of jaws. Instead, as a true eel, moray eels have two sets of jaws a powerful outer jaw and a second, inner pharyngeal jaw located inside the throat. Moray eels have a particular shape that prohibits them from swallowing in the same manner that most other fish do. Green moray eels have long, slender bodies that are flattened from side to side. Despite the menacing look this movement gives them, it’s actually more of a survival technique than an invitation for a fight they do this to pump water through their gills for respiration. Moray eels look intimidating thanks to the way they constantly open and close their mouths. This eel secretes yellow mucus all over its body to protect it from parasites and diseases, giving this animal the illusion of being green. However, just because these are true eels doesn’t mean their name is still not deceiving. Their eating preferences begin to change as they mature, however, and adult monkeyface eels suddenly become herbivores, preferring to dine on a variety of algae instead.įinally, an eel that is in fact a true eel! Unlike the wolf eel and the monkeyface eel, moray eels lack pectoral fins and gill covers. As juveniles, monkeyface eels munch on small crustaceans and zooplankton. Like the wolf eel, monkeyface eels typically only leave home to forage for food. One impressive feat of the monkeyface eel is its ability to survive out of water for over 24 hours, as long as it stays moist. These fish are generally found within intertidal zones, where there are plenty of rocky areas to hide. Monkeyface pricklebacks can be found in habitats from southern Oregon, along the California coast and down to the northern part of Mexico. Monkeyface eels boast the same pectoral fins and gill covers as the wolf eel. Despite its long, slender body and its name, the monkeyface eel is part of the prickleback family. Once again, this “eel” is a deceptive one. Around the age of four, wolf eels pair up with a mate and find a nice cave to inhabit for the rest of their days, only leaving to forage for food or if forced out by a larger animal, such as an octopus. Wolf eels are very loyal animals, and when they pick a partner, it’s for life. Wolf eels are typically found in cold waters along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to the northern tip of Baja. As they grow, however, this animal loses its bright colors and turns gray with dark spots and blotches to provide camouflage as it adapts to deeper water habitats. As juveniles, wolf eels are vibrant orange, and can be found in shallow subtidal zones. The coloring of a wolf eel changes dramatically through its lifetime. Their strong jaws and sharp teeth help them crack open or crush shells to get to the meat inside. Wolf eels typically dine on hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, mussels and sea urchins. Wolf eels have sharp canine teeth and very powerful jaws that come in handy at mealtime. Some of the features that distinguish a wolf eel from a true eel are the presence of pectoral fins behind the head and covers over the gills. Wolf eels are not true eels but are rather part of the Anarchichadidae or “wolffish” family. Wolf eels may look like, and even be named like an eel, but don’t let that fool you. But are these slithery animals really as easy to identify as we think? Despite the common notions about eels, some of these animals are more deceptive than you might realize. When it comes to identifying aquatic animals, eels seem like a no-brainer thanks to their distinguishable long, slender bodies.
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