Spotted Catfish

The Spotted Catfish/Spotted Wolffish, a benthic species, inhabits the North Atlantic and adjacent Arctic Ocean areas, extending from north of Russia and Scandinavia to Nova Scotia's Scotian Shelf. It features distinct canine-like teeth, a robust head with a blunt snout, small eyes, and a stout body lacking pelvic fins. Its long dorsal fin reaches the tail base, complemented by flexible spiny rays, a small caudal fin, and rounded pectoral fins. The species has firm muscles and a coloration varying from pale olive to deep brown, adorned with blackish-brown spots. It can grow over 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) long and weigh up to 23 kilograms (51 pounds).

Inhabiting both sides of the North Atlantic, from Labrador to the Barents Sea, the Spotted Wolffish's northernmost range in Canada is Baffin Bay, where it is rarely seen. In the western North Atlantic, it resides off Greenland's coasts, the Labrador Shelf, Grand Banks, and occasionally the Scotian Shelf.

Preferring cold, deep waters below 5 °C (41 °F) and ranging from 50 to 800 meters (160–2,620 feet) deep, the species can be found as shallow as 25 meters (82 feet) in Canadian Arctic areas. It favors a habitat of coarse sand and shell hash with rocky regions for shelter and nesting. Spawning takes place from summer to late fall or early winter.