Ocean pout

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Ocean pout
WHSA Ocean Pout.jpg
Ocean pout at the Woods Hole Science Aquarium
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Zoarcidae
Genus: Zoarces
Species:
Z. americanus
Binomial name
Zoarces americanus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Synonyms [1]
  • Blennius americanus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Macrozoarces americanus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
  • Blennius viviparus unicolor Walbaum, 1792
  • Blennius anguillaris Peck, 1804
  • Zoarces anguillaris (Peck, 1804)
  • Blennius ciliatus Mitchill, 1814
  • Blennius labrosus Mitchill, 1815
  • Zoarces gronovii Valenciennes, 1836
  • Blennius gronovii (Valenciennes, 1836)
Ocean pout, Newfoundland, Canada Ocean pout, Newfoundland, Canada.jpg
Ocean pout, Newfoundland, Canada

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

The ocean pout was first formally described in 1801 by the German naturalists Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider with its type locality given as "American seas". [2] It is one of six species in the genus Zoarces , the only genus in the subfamily Zoarcinae [1] which is one of four subfamilies in the eelpout family Zoarcidae. [3]

Description

The ocean pout has an elongated, tapering body with a wide mouth with fleshy lips, the upper lip protruding further than 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. [4] 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. [5] The ocean pout is the largest species of eelpout and has reached a maximum published total length of 110 cm (43 in). [1]

Distribution and habitat

The ocean pout is found in the western Atlantic Ocean where it occurs from Labrador in Canada south to Delaware. [1] 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). [1]

Biology

The ocean pout is a predatory species which feeds on invertebrates such as bivalves, sea urchins, sand dollars, brittle stars, and crabs, [5] worms, [1] and some fish. They are at least partially migratory with the fishes in the Gulf of Maine moving offshore during the summer and returning to shallower coastal waters in the Spring while the fish from Georges Bank and New Jersey they move to cooler rocky areas in summer and return to the softer substrates in the Fall. In September and October the adults gather in rocky areas to breed. The females lay a gelatinous mass of eggs which they guard until they hatch, typically 2–3 months. [4]

Use in genetic modification

Scientists have succeeded in taking genes from ocean pout and implanting those into the Atlantic salmon. [6] [7] The promoter for the antifreeze protein gene is used in conjunction with a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon, which leads to a higher concentration of the growth hormone in the blood, causing the genetically modified salmon to grow much more rapidly. These transgenic salmon reach a harvest weight in two-thirds of the time that it takes their unmodified counterparts. Controversy has arisen, as some view genetically altered salmon as a potential threat to wild salmon stocks should it escape into the wild. AquaBounty Technologies has attempted to address these concerns by stating that all of the transgenic salmon to be intended for sale will be sterile females. As of late 2017, several tons have been sold in Canada, and final approvals and decisions on labeling are pending in the United States. [ citation needed ] Some restaurant and grocery store chains in the United States have announced they will not sell the new fish, citing concerns over its safety for human consumption, despite no scientific evidence showing a risk. [8]

In June 2006, the Unilever company announced that it would research the potential use of genetically modified yeast to grow antifreeze proteins based on a gene from the ocean pout, and use proteins extracted from the yeast to improve the consistency and storage properties of ice cream. Incorporating these ice-structuring proteins means that a lower cream content, and thus a lower calorie content, ice cream can be manufactured without the risk of ice crystal formation. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viviparous eelpout</span> Species of fish

The viviparous eelpout, also known as the, viviparous blenny and European eelpout is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is notable for being ovoviviparous and gives birth to live larvae. It is a common soup ingredient in Mediterranean countries. The bones are of greenish colour, due to a harmless pigment. Their skin is slimy and the colour is variable.

The eelpouts are the ray-finned fish family Zoarcidae. As the common name suggests, they are somewhat eel-like in appearance. All of the roughly 300 species are marine and mostly bottom-dwelling, some at great depths. Eelpouts are predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere. The arctic, north pacific and north Atlantic oceans have the highest concentration of species, however species are found around the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antifreeze protein</span> Class of peptides which help cells survive freezing conditions

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) or ice structuring proteins refer to a class of polypeptides produced by certain animals, plants, fungi and bacteria that permit their survival in temperatures below the freezing point of water. AFPs bind to small ice crystals to inhibit the growth and recrystallization of ice that would otherwise be fatal. There is also increasing evidence that AFPs interact with mammalian cell membranes to protect them from cold damage. This work suggests the involvement of AFPs in cold acclimatization.

Zoarces is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is the only genus in the subfamily Zoarcinae. These eelpouts are found in the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific Oceans.

Aiakas is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Zoarcidae the eelpouts. These fishes are found in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Bothrocara</i> Genus of fishes

Bothrocara is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. They are found in the Pacific Ocean with one species reaching the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoarcoidei</span> Suborder of fishes

Zoarcoidei is a suborder of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes. The suborder includes the wolffishes, gunnels and eelpouts. The suborder includes about 400 species. These fishes predominantly found in the boreal seas of the northern hemisphere but they have colonised the southern hemisphere.

<i>Pachycara</i> Genus of fishes

Pachycara is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. The fishes in this genus are found in the Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified fish</span>

Genetically modified fish are organisms from the taxonomic clade which includes the classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the fish which does not occur naturally in the species, i.e. transgenesis.

Lycenchelys sarsii, Sar's wolf eel, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts.

Gymnelinae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. Most species are found in the North Pacific Ocean but one genus is cosmopolitan, and another is endemic to the Southern Ocean.

Andriashevia is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamiy Gymnelinae of the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts, its only species is Andriasheevia aptera. It is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, where it occurs off the Pacific coast of Japan. It appears to be a demersal fish which is associated with large red gorgonian corals, e.g. Paragorgia. Examinations of the stomach contents of collected specimens has shown that its diet is mainly crustaceans but it likely also feeds on encrusting invertebrates which it searches for among coral branches and the hard substrates they live in. This species attains a maximum published standard length of 19.3 cm (7.6 in). Unlike other species in the subfamily Gymnelinae, this taxon has no pectoral fins. The genus name honours the Soviet ichthyologist Anatoly Petrovich Andriashev for his work on fishes of the Russian Far East and especially eelpouts. The specific name, aptera means "without wings" and refers to the absence of pectoral fins.

<i>Austrolycus</i>

Austrolycus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. The two species in this genus are found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the western South Atlantic Ocean off southern South America and the Falkland Islands.

The cuskpout is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Derepodichthys and is found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.

<i>Iluocoetes</i>

Iluocoetes is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. The only species in the genus is Iluocoetes fimbriatus. This species is found off southern South America, off Chile and Argentina, in the southeastern Pacific and southwestern Atlantic Oceans.

<i>Lycenchelys muraena</i>

Lycenchelys muraena, the moray wolf eel, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is found in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans.

The bearded eelpout is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. This species is the only species in the monospecific genus Lyconema. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Lycozoarces is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts, its only species being Lycozoarces regani. It is the only genus in the monogeneric subfamily Lycozoarinae. This taxon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Tatar Strait in the northern Sea of Japan

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Zoarces americanus" in FishBase . June 2022 version.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Zoarces". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Anderson , M. E. and V. V . Fedorov (2004). "Family Zoarcidae Swainson 1839 — eelpouts" (PDF). California Academy of Sciences Annotated Checklists of Fishes. 34.
  4. 1 2 "Ocean pout". NOAA. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ocean Pout (Macrozoarces americanus)" (PDF). Maine Department of Marine Resources. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Gorman, James (22 September 2002). "Dumb and Dumber: Here's a Fish Story With Legs". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  7. ↑ Burke, Monte (19 February 2001). "Cannery Roe". Forbes.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2002. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  8. ↑ Burros, Marian (18 September 2002). "Chefs Join Campaign Against Altered Fish". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  9. ↑ Moskin, Julia (26 July 2006). "Can a bit of Arctic pep up ice cream?". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 February 2013.

Further reading

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