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Zoarces viviparus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Eelpout
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
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Zoarces viviparus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Zoarces viviparus (Eelpout)
Zoarces viviparus
Picture by Svensen, R.


Denmark country information

Common names: Ålekvabbe, Almindelig ålekvabbe
Occurrence: native
Salinity: brackish
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref: Winkler, H.M., K. Skora, R. Repecka, M. Ploks, A. Neelov, L. Urho, A. Gushin and H. Jespersen, 2000
Importance: subsistence fisheries | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: protected | Ref:
Uses: bait: yes;
Comments: Occurs in all the waters around Denmark. Specimens less than 230 mm are protected except for live ones used as bait. Gravid specimens, regardless the size, are protected in the period: 15. Sep. - 31. Jan. (Ref. 10963). Also Ref. 9900, 173.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Muus, B.J. and P. Dahlstrøm, 1989
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) > Zoarcidae (Eelpouts) > Zoarcinae
Etymology: Zoarces: Greek, zoarkes, -es = that gives life (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Linnaeus.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 40 m (Ref. 31184), usually 2 - 20 m (Ref. 35388).   Temperate; 72°N - 49°N, 11°W - 52°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Northeast Atlantic: White Sea, Cheshskaya Guba and Murmansk coast (Barents Sea) southward to English Channel (River Somme); eastern coasts of Scotland, England, also Irish Sea; the Orkneys, Shetlands and in shallow waters of North Sea and Baltic.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 17.0, range 16 - 18 cm
Max length : 52.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4695); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4695); max. published weight: 510.00 g (Ref. 6397); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 35388)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Bones are green due to harmless pigment. Skin slimy and variable color (Ref. 35388).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits rocky shores under stones, among algae and in tide pools, between tide marks down to 40 m. May remain out of water under rocks or seaweeds (Ref. 31184). Feeds on gastropods, chironomids, crustaceans, eggs and fry of fishes. Gives birth to live young (Ref. 9900). Bones colored green by the harmless pigment Vivianit (Ref. 4645). Breathes air when out of water (Ref. 31184). Mating takes place in August - September with internal fertilization of the eggs. Female give birth to 30-400 developed young (35-55mm) (Ref. 35388).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Fertilization occurs in August-September. Egg development lasts for one month. Total bearing time is five months (Ref. 6397).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Andriashev, A.P., 1986. Zoarcidae. p. 1130-1150. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. volume 3. UNESCO, Paris. (Ref. 4695)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)


CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
FAO(Fisheries: production; publication : search) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 7.3 - 11.3, mean 9.4 (based on 310 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5156   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00316 (0.00188 - 0.00531), b=3.13 (2.97 - 3.29), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  3.5   ±0.49 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=2; tmax=10; Fec=30; K=0.19-0.4).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High vulnerability (60 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  Very high vulnerability (84 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Medium.