Adult wolf-eels mate between October and April, although research shows that most nests will appear from December to March within the greater Puget Sound area. With some mated pairs, even this isn’t ironclad, with the occasional female abandoning the loser of a fight to share a den with the victor. New research reveals that wolf-eels do appear to be loyal mates, but only on a seasonal basis rather than for life. This “fact” was the result of studies in aquariums and on casual observations in the wild in which individual fish weren’t clearly identified. In the past it was “well-known” that wolf-eels mated for life. Studies by Marine Fish Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have revealed much new information regarding the life cycle of wolf-eels and debunked a few myths. In both the American Pacific Northwest and in British Columbia, Canada, the prevailing attitude among divers regarding wolf-eels is both affection and protection. Some dive sites, such as Sunrise Wall near Tacoma, are well known as locations where wolf-eels interact with divers and can be part of a unique photo opportunity. In Washington the wolf-eel is a protected species in both Puget Sound and Hood Canal, not because they are endangered, but because their value as a living resource to divers and photographers far exceeds whatever commercial value the species could provide. Throughout history, wolf-eels have been deeply respected by the peoples of the northern Pacific – In some tribes the tasty wolf-eel was a ritual food eaten only by the tribal shaman. Growing up to 8 feet in length, these massive fish are thought to live up to 10 years, although documentation of longevity is lacking. The popular name, “wolf-eel”, comes from the large frontal canine-like teeth that they use in seizing prey, mainly hard-shelled crustaceans and invertebrates. The second half, ocellatus, is Latin for “eye-like spots”, a perfect description of the wolf-eel’s skin. Its scientific name, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, comes from both Greek and Latin - Anarrhichthys comes from the Greek Anarhichas, a Greek fish that the wolf-eel resembles. Divers travel from around the world to glimpse these fascinating creatures, and hope that they, too, will be able to say that they “Danced with Wolfies”.Īctually a wolf fish, not an eel, wolf-eels can be found as far south as San Diego and northward to the Aleutian Islands. There’s something about the ugly face of an adult wolf-eel staring at you from its den that will turn an ordinary dive into a great one – poor visibility, terrible weather, rotten currents….all will be forgotten once a Wolfie appears. Get any group of divers together in the Pacific Northwest and ask them what makes a really GREAT dive, and invariably one of the things they will agree on is that a wolf-eel will somehow be involved. The Ugly Old Man of the Sea: The Wolf-Eel
I scaled it down for publishing in Northwest Dive News (NWDN), in which it appeared in the August 2005 issue. A longer article appeared in Advanced Diver magazine (ADM) issue # 14. It struck me that the best means of answering his question would be to post the text of an article I wrote regarding wolf-eel biology and life cycle. I posted another shot of a juvenile wolf-eel on the club gallery that appears here:Ĭalvin asked me a question regarding wolf-eel "parenting" after hatching. A dive becomes special the moment I spot one!Ĭalvin and Nailer have recently posted some great footage and a still photo of a juvenile wolf-eel. Wolf-eels simply intrigue me.they always have.
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