The long tail serves in locomotion, powering them forward with big, slow, s-shaped waves while being stabilized with the long dorsal and pectoral fins (see video below). They are the only member of their family that have this body shape.
Wolf eel fish driver#
This is likely another driver for the male’s having such fleshy heads – they are better able to survive the wounds inflicted by such battles.Ĭlearly, another unique feature about this species is their eel-like body. They do also sometimes need to do battle for den space with a Giant Pacific Octopus.
As adults, the females are smaller and a darker brownish grey (both remarkably camouflaged for when they are in their rocky dens). Both male and female juveniles are brownish orange and look even more eel-like, lacking the big head of the adults. In aquariums, their life expectancy is known to be at least 28 years. Wolf-Eels have long-lasting pair bonds, coming together when they are around 4-years-old and having their first clutch when they are around 7.
The males do compete for females who will sometimes opt to swap dens and go live with the competitor. Sound like any other species you know? Wonder if it happens at mid-life? 😉 The mature males do carry battle wounds supporting that they don’t just hang out in dens waiting for a snack to come by, but rather that they will occasionally duke it out with other male Wolf-Eels.It was long thought that Wolf-Eels always mate for life but, this is not always the case. Mature male bearing the scars of battle ©2011 Gord Jenkins.
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