Northern Wolffish Identification Guide
Identify a Northern Wolffish by its elongated body, blunt head with large canine teeth, and faint blotchy pattern.
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Key identification features
- Elongated, robust, eel-like body tapering toward the tail
- Blunt head with small eyes and a heavy jaw
- Large, protruding canine-like teeth and crushing molar plates visible when the mouth is open
- Blue-grey to brownish-grey body with faint, indistinct blotches or spots, less bold than related species
- Single long dorsal fin running most of the body length; no pelvic fins; can exceed 1.8 m
Common look-alikes
- Atlantic wolffish: shows more prominent, well-defined dark vertical bars or blotches against a lighter background, and lives in shallower water
- Spotted wolffish: covered in bold, rounded dark spots with strong contrast, unlike the faint markings of the Northern Wolffish
- Ocean pout: much smaller and thinner-bodied with thick lips but no exposed canine teeth
Where you'll see one
Northern Wolffish inhabit cold, deep waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic, over rocky and soft bottoms, typically at greater depths than Atlantic or Spotted wolffish, making them the least commonly encountered of the three inshore.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Northern Wolffish from an Atlantic Wolffish?
Compare the body markings: Atlantic Wolffish show clear, bold dark bars, while Northern Wolffish have only faint, indistinct blotches on a blue-grey to brownish-grey background.
What separates a Northern Wolffish from a Spotted Wolffish?
Spotted Wolffish are covered in bold, high-contrast rounded dark spots, while Northern Wolffish show much fainter, less defined patterning across the body.