Lycodes

Lycodes

 

a genus of fishes of the family Zoarcidae. Of the approximately 50 species, 45 are found in the northern hemisphere. Lycodes live primarily in arctic seas (16 species in the USSR) and in the Sea of Okhotsk (18 species). They are benthic fishes, living primarily at depths of 100–500 m (only five species live at depths of 1,500–2,000 m). They prefer silty gravel and low temperatures and feed on benthic invertebrates or, more rarely, other fishes. Many species bury themselves in the silt. They are usually small, but certain species may reach 1 m in length. Although their flesh is tasty, they have no commercial significance.

REFERENCES

Andriiashev, A. P. Ryby severnykh morei SSSR. Moscow-Leningrad, 1954.
Zhizn’ zhivotnykh, vol 4, part 1. Moscow, 1971.