HomeMarine aquarium fishOther marine fishWolf-eel Wolf-eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) Scientific name: Anarrhichthys ocellatus Ayres, 1855 The Wolf-eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) is a marine fish of the family Anarhichadidae. Native range: North Pacific, Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to the Krenitzen Islands, in the Aleutian chain and Imperial Beach, southern California, USA. BiologyAnal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 200. Dorsal with 228-250 spines. Caudal small. Anal with up to 233 rays.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameAnarrhichthys ocellatusFamilyAnarhichadidae (Wolffishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length240Depth range1–226 m (3–741 ft)EnvironmentMarine; demersal; depth range 1 - 226 mClimateTemperateDistributionNorth Pacific: Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan to the Krenitzen Islands, in the Aleutian chain and Imperial Beach, southern California, USA.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansTraumatogenicUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=7; Fec=10,000) More other marine fishCrescent gunnelPholis laetaPenpoint gunnelApodichthys flavidusMosshead warbonnetChirolophis nugatorDecorated warbonnetChirolophis decoratusMonkeyface pricklebackCebidichthys violaceusSlender cockscombAnoplarchus insignisSee all other marine fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026