Fascination with 'River Monsters': Eerie yet Incredibly Friendly Creatures - Breaking News & Top Stories

The Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) is a marine creature that appears as if it has stepped out of a horror movie with its formidable teeth and powerful jaws. However, what might surprise many is that these eerie-looking creatures are exceptionally friendly towards humans.

In terms of appearance, the Atlantic Wolffish shares very little with actual wolves other than its sharp teeth and strong jaws, which are essential for its feeding habits. In fact, its teeth are so prominent that some protrude from its mouth, giving it a terrifying yet comical appearance, at least by human standards.

These unique fish use their fearsome teeth to dig into the sediments on the ocean floor to feed. They break the hard shells of crabs, sea urchins, mussels, and other hard-shelled species with ease. In addition to their teeth, these Wolffish have a fairly long body and resemble eels in many ways.

Found along the east and west coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, the Wolffish is a bottom-dwelling creature that inhabits depths of about 600 meters. They are frequently encountered in nooks and crannies, displaying slow, deliberate movements. To adapt to their chilly habitats, Wolffish even produce antifreeze in their bodies, as they typically reside in waters with temperatures ranging between -1 to 11 degrees Celsius.

While most fish are known for external fertilization (females release eggs into the water, males compete for external fertilization), Wolffish engage in internal fertilization. This means that males and females mate in a manner more akin to mammals.

Despite their intimidating appearance, Wolffish exhibit a surprising affection towards humans.

The Atlantic Wolffish belongs to the Wolffish family, Anarhichadidae, native to the North Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, the population of Atlantic Wolffish in U.S. waters has rapidly declined, largely due to overfishing and habitat destruction, and it is currently listed as a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition to their unique appearance, Wolffish are also known for naturally producing antifreeze to maintain their blood circulation in very cold environments.

The Atlantic Wolffish was formally described in 1758 in the 10th edition of the book “Systema Naturae” by Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus classified it under the genus Anarhichas, making A. lupus the current species name. The specific name “lupus” means “wolf,” one of the common names for these fish due to their fangs-like incisors.

The Atlantic Wolffish retains the same body shape and general external features as its prehistoric ancestors. The largest recorded specimen measured 1.5 meters in length and weighed nearly 18 kilograms. It boasts a long, cylindrical body that becomes flattened at the tail. Atlantic Wolffish come in a variety of colors, commonly seen as burgundy, dull olive green, or bluish-gray. Their blunt, eel-like body shape results in slow, undulating swimming, much like an eel.

The distinguishing feature of the Atlantic Wolffish, from which it derives its common name, is its enlarged tooth structure. Their teeth are used to differentiate the Atlantic Wolffish from all other members of the Anarhichadidae family. Both the lower and upper jaws are equipped with four to six strong, conical teeth that resemble canines. Behind these conical teeth in the upper jaw are three rows of grinding teeth.

Atlantic Wolffish utilize their powerful jaws to consume hard-shelled mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms, but they do not prey on other fish. They are known to regularly feed on species such as Buccinum, blood cockles (Polynices, Chrysodomus, and Siphon), sea mussels (Mactra), large hermit crabs, starfish, and sea urchins.

According to data compiled by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, since 1983, the catch of Atlantic Wolffish by U.S. trawlers has decreased by 95%, reaching 64.7 metric tons in 2007. In 1950, when NMFS began operating, data showed that 1,098 metric tons of Atlantic Wolffish were caught, worth $137,008. However, the catch was quickly depleted, and by 1990, the catch of this fish had dropped to 400 metric tons, and by 2002, it was 154 metric tons. Currently, the Atlantic Wolffish is classified as a species of concern by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The declining Atlantic Wolffish population can be attributed to three main factors: overfishing, habitat destruction, and trawling practices near the sea floor. Wolffish are classified as “overfished” because of their large bodies and high reproductive age, making it difficult for their numbers to recover after being caught. Trawlers no longer catch Wolffish, but that doesn’t mean they are smart enough to avoid the net.