name: Atlantic Wolffish
flavor_db_name_variants: atlantic wolffish
source: foodb
status: draft
food_db_id: Atlantic wolffish
id: 296
name_scientific: Anarhichas lupus
description: The Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), also known as the seawolf, Atlantic catfish, ocean catfish, devil fish, wolf eel, or sea cat, is a marine fish, the largest of the wolffish family Anarhichadidae. They are commonly sighted throughout Asia. The numbers of the Atlantic wolffish are rapidly being depleted apparently due to overfishing and bycatch, and is currently a Species of Concern according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service. Although it looks fearsome, the Atlantic wolffish is only a threat to humans when defending itself out of the water. Apart from their unique appearance wolffish are distinguished by the natural antifreeze they produce to keep their blood moving fluidly in their very cold habitat, involvement by both the male and female in brood bearing, and the large size of their eggs. They are also an important factor in controlling green crab and sea urchin populations, which can become overly disruptive to habitats if left unchecked. Wolffish population success is also an important indicator of the health of other bottom-dweller populations, such as cod.
itis_id: 171341
wikipedia_id: Atlantic wolffish
picture_file_name: 297.jpg
picture_content_type: image/jpeg
picture_file_size: 50517
picture_updated_at: 2012-04-20T09:38:56.000Z
legacy_id: 324
food_group: Aquatic foods
food_subgroup: Fishes
food_type: Type 1
created_at: 2011-02-09T00:37:31.000Z
updated_at: 2019-05-14T18:04:22.000Z
creator_id: null
updater_id: null
export_to_afcdb: false
category: specific
ncbi_taxonomy_id: 8204
export_to_foodb: true
public_id: FOOD00296