Image source: laszlocserhazi | inaturalist.org
The ocean pout (Zoarces americanus) is an eelpout in the family Zoarcidae.
It is found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of New England and eastern Canada. The fish has antifreeze proteins in its blood, giving it the ability to survive in near-freezing waters.
The ocean pout is distinguished by its long, narrowing body and a broad mouth with thick, fleshy lips, with the upper lip extending beyond the lower. This species varies in color from yellow through to reddish brown and to grayish-green and is marked with a series of cross like markings running the length of the eel-like body. There is a dark brown line on each side of the head running from the upper rear margin of the eye to the edge of the operculum.
The long, continuous dorsal fin does not connect with the caudal fin, however, the anal fin does. The teeth are robust, blunt and conical in shape.
The ocean pout is the largest species of eelpout and has reached a maximum published total length of 110 cm (43 in).
The ocean pout is found in the western Atlantic Ocean where it occurs from Labrador in Canada south to Delaware. They are bottom living species typically found on soft substrates of sand and mud but which can be found in rocky areas too,[5] they occur at depths between 0 and 388 m (0 and 1,273 ft).
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