Atlantic wolffish

fish

Also known as: Anarhichas lupus

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July 23, 2026

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The Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) is a large, long-bodied fish found in the northern Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the family Anarhichadidae and can grow up to about 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) long. Wolffish are characterized by a large head, a single long dorsal fin, and powerful teeth, including canines and molars, which they use to eat prey like crabs, starfishes, and sea urchins. They inhabit waters from the shoreline down to depths of over 300 meters. In Europe, they are known as catfishes and are caught for food, as they are in the United States.1

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wolffish
Species include the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), a vertically banded North Atlantic species; the spotted wolffish, or spotted catfish (A. minor), also of the North Atlantic; and the wolf-eel (Anarhichthys ocellatus), a black-spotted form found in the eastern Pacific.
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Species include the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), a vertically banded North Atlantic species; the spotted wolffish, or spotted catfish (A. minor), also of the North Atlantic; and the wolf-eel (Anarhichthys ocellatus), a black-spotted form found in the eastern Pacific.
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