Ocean pout

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

The ocean pout is recognizable by its broad, fleshy mouth and elongated body. Greyish brown, it is mottled with lighter, often yellowish, markings.

Lacking a swim bladder, the pout cannot regulate its buoyancy, which confines it to the seafloor.

Its skin appears smooth because its overlapping scales are very thin. The lateral line is clearly visible, and the dorsal fin runs almost the entire length of the body, giving the fish an eel-like appearance.

Its large, rounded pectoral fins help stabilize it on the seabed.

Reproduction

This fish is an oviparous species, although fertilization occurs internally. Females lay about 3,000 gelatinous eggs on the substrate, often in sheltered areas such as under rocks or within crevices.

Spawning generally takes place in late autumn or winter. The female guards the eggs until they hatch, which is unusual among marine fishes.

Hatching occurs after several weeks, depending on water temperature.

Diet

The ocean pout is a benthic carnivorous fish, living on the seafloor. It feeds primarily on invertebrates such as worms, mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, and ascidians, and occasionally on small fish.

It hunts mainly at night, probing the sediments to uncover its prey.

Predators

Among its natural predators are larger fish such as cod and halibut, as well as certain seabirds and seals.

Juveniles are particularly vulnerable to predation.

Habitat

It inhabits the coastal waters of the American Atlantic, particularly estuaries, bays, and muddy or sandy bottoms.

While often found in shallow areas, it can occur at depths of up to 200 metres.

Ecology, behaviour

The pout plays an important role in marine food webs as a mid-level predator. It is sedentary and discreet in its behaviour, often hiding under rocks or in crevices.

This species is also known for its tolerance to variations in salinity and temperature.

A true specialist of cold waters, it produces an antifreeze protein that prevents the crystallization of water molecules in its body.

Research into its genome could pave the way for applications in cryopreservation, aquaculture, and even the food industry. The pout may well become a new player in biotechnological innovation.

French name

Loquette d'Amérique

Scientific name

Zoarces americanus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Osteichthyes (bony fish)

Order

Perciformes

Family

Zoarcidae

Size

Length: about 1 m

Weight

Average: 5 kg

Life span

18 years

Status

Common fish

At the Biodôme

The deep basin at the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence is home to several benthic species. Here, the pout shares hiding places on the seafloor with spotted wolffish and American lobsters.

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