# Wolf eel (*Anarrhichthys ocellatus*) The wolf eel is a long, snake-like fish that lives in the ocean. It has a big mouth and sharp teeth, but it’s not really a wolf! These eels like to hide in rocky places. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Wolf eel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Poisson_loup_%C3%A0_ocelles.jpg&width=800) Photo: Abujoy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poisson_loup_%C3%A0_ocelles.jpg) ## Appearance The Wolf eel has an elongated, muscular body with a large head and powerful jaws. It is typically gray or brown, covered in distinctive dark spots, called ocelli, that give it a mottled appearance. Its large, soulful eyes sit atop a prominent snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Anarhichadidae - **Genus:** Anarrhichthys ## Interesting facts - A wolf eel pair often mates for life and cares for their eggs together! - Despite its name, the wolf eel is actually a type of fish, not a true eel! - Their powerful bite is strong enough to crack open a diver's protective fin! - Wolf eel babies are bright orange, looking totally different from their parents! ## Special abilities - **Mighty Jaw Crushers:** Wolf eel has incredibly strong jaws and specialized teeth that help them crush tough shells of prey. - **Rocky Reef Camouflage:** Wolf eel can blend into its rocky den and surrounding reefs that helps them hide from bigger predators. - **Protective Den Builder:** Wolf eel can dig and maintain a safe den in rocky crevices that helps them raise their young securely. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-240 cm - **Weight:** 10-19 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Swim Speed:** 1 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 226 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding These ocean bottom dwellers use their strong jaws to crush and eat hard-shelled seafood like crabs and clams! - **Age differences:** Young wolf eels eat smaller crustaceans before developing strong enough jaws for larger prey. - **Primary Foods:** Sea Urchins, Crabs, Clams, Mussels, Sand Dollars, Snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Purple Sea Urchin (*Strongylocentrotus purpuratus*) — A favorite meal, crushed with powerful jaws. - **Hunts:** [Dungeness Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dungeness-crab) (*Metacarcinus magister*) — Its hard shell is no match for the eel's strong bite. - **Eaten by:** Giant Pacific Octopus (*Enteroctopus dofleini*) — Young wolf eels can be prey for this clever hunter. - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Larger sharks may prey on adult wolf eels. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always stay at a safe distance from ocean animals and never touch them without permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wolf eel? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Wolf eel? 150-240 cm ### How much does Wolf eel weigh? 10-19 kg ### How long does Wolf eel live? 20-25 years ### What does Wolf eel eat? These ocean bottom dwellers use their strong jaws to crush and eat hard-shelled seafood like crabs and clams! ### How fast can Wolf eel swim? 1 km/h ### Where is Wolf eel usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Wolf eel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Oregon Coast Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-coast-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Aquarium - [Seattle Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seattle-aquarium-washington) — Washington, US · Zoo - [The Living Planet Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-living-planet-aquarium) — Utah, US · Zoo - [Monterey Bay Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monterey-bay-aquarium-california) — California, US · Aquarium - [Alaska SeaLife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-sealife-center) — Alaska, US · Zoo - [Heal the Bay Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/heal-the-bay-aquarium) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Wolf eel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wolf-eel) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Wolf eel: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wolf-eel)