| Family: |
Zoarcidae (Eelpouts), subfamily: Zoarcinae |
| Max. size: |
52 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 510.0 g; max. reported age: 10 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Northeast Atlantic: White Sea, Cheshskaya Guba and Murmansk coast (Barents Sea) southward to English Channel (River Somme); eastern coasts of Scotland, England, also Irish Sea; the Orkneys, Shetlands and in shallow waters of North Sea and Baltic. |
| Diagnosis: |
Bones are green due to harmless pigment. Skin slimy and variable color (Ref. 35388). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits rocky shores under stones, among algae and in tide pools, between tide marks down to 40 m. May remain out of water under rocks or seaweeds (Ref. 31184). Feeds on gastropods, chironomids, crustaceans, eggs and fry of fishes. Gives birth to live young (Ref. 9900). Bones colored green by the harmless pigment Vivianit (Ref. 4645). Breathes air when out of water (Ref. 31184). Mating takes place in August - September with internal fertilization of the eggs. Female give birth to 30-400 developed young (35-55mm) (Ref. 35388). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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