Burbot
ExploreFish
Burbot
Lota
The Burbot is a unique fish that looks a bit like a catfish. It has a long body and is often found in cold waters!
Habitat: Cold lakes and rivers
Appearance
The Burbot has a snake-like body with mottled, dark brown or olive-green skin patterned with dark spots and blotches. It features a single prominent whisker, called a barbel, on its chin, and two short barbels near its nostrils, giving it a distinctive, whiskered appearance.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderGadiformesFamilyLotidaeGenusLota
Category
FishRarity
Rare
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A Burbot's mouth can open super wide to swallow surprisingly large prey whole.
Burbot is the ONLY freshwater fish related to ocean cod, like a unique freshwater cousin!
Their skin is slimy and lacks scales, feeling very smooth and eel-like.
They love the cold so much, they actively spawn under ice in winter!
Special abilities
Ability
Arctic Adaptability
Burbot can thrive in icy-cold waters because their bodies are adapted to sub-zero temperatures, helping them survive where most fish cannot.
Ability
Night Vision Hunter
Burbot has excellent low-light vision that helps them hunt prey in the dark depths or murky waters at night.
Ability
Tactile Food Finder
Burbot uses a sensitive chin barbel to feel for food on the dark lake bottom, helping them locate hidden prey.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 30-100 cm
- Weight
- 0.5-20 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Swim Speed
- 8 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 700 m
- Water Type
- Freshwater
Diet & Feeding
A hungry hunter, Burbot eats other fish, insects, and crustaceans from the lake bottom.
Age differences: Young Burbot eat insects and crustaceans, while adults primarily hunt other fish.
Primary Foods
- minnows
- perch
- whitefish
- crayfish
- aquatic insects
- smelt
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
eaten by
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Larger northern pike are known predators of burbot.
hunts
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Burbot frequently ambush and consume yellow perch.
hunts
Cisco
Coregonus artedi
In deep lakes, Burbot prey on cisco and other small fish.
eats
Virile Crayfish
Orconectes virilis
Crayfish are a common food source for burbot on the bottom.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
EelpoutLota
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Burbot?
30-100 cm
How much does Burbot weigh?
0.5-20 kg
How long does Burbot live?
10-15 years
What does Burbot eat?
A hungry hunter, Burbot eats other fish, insects, and crustaceans from the lake bottom.
How fast can Burbot swim?
8 km/h
Where is Burbot usually found?
Cold lakes and rivers
How does Burbot hunt?
Ambush
How deep can Burbot go?
700 m
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