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Atlantic Catfish ( Anarhichas lupus )
Pictures and text by Rudolf Svensen
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Atlantic Catfish |
Atlantic Catfish |
Among the three
species of wolf fishes along the Norwegian shoreline,
the Atlantic Catfish ( Anarhichas lupus ) is the only
one frequently spotted by divers. It uses its strong
jaws to crush seashells, sea urchins and mussels, which
it eats. Because of its strength and frightening teeth,
the Atlantic Catfish has got a pretty bad reputation.
Everyone seems to have heard a cock-and-bull story or
two about enormous furious catfishes, which have
attacked fishermen or divers. Usually is this caused by
to the fact that the diver, or fisherman, has tried to
put a knife through the head of the fish or hurt it in
other ways.
Divers, who do not threaten the Catfish, will experience
a calm and friendly fish.
The Atlantic Catfish is often fount in cracks in the
undersea mountains or in harbours where they hide among
scrap and moorings. An old Catfish may reach the length
of 120 cm and a weight of 20 kilos.
The male is a careful father. After the female has
spawned her yellow eggs in a ball-shaped lump, she
leaves her new-borne kids, and the male guards the eggs
until they hatch two to three mounts later. |
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