Species Composition, Distribution, and Some Biological Aspects for Fishes of the Genus Lycodes (Zoarcidae) in the Laptev Sea in 2014

• Published in: Journal of ichthyology 2019-07, Vol.59 (4), p.488-498
• Main Authors: Smirnova, E. V., Karamushko, O. V., Chernova, N. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Community composition; Expeditions; Length-weight relationships; Life Sciences; Lycodes jugoricus; Lycodes palearis; Lycodes turneri; Multiship expeditions; Polar environments; Shallow water; Species composition; Vertical distribution; Water temperature; Zoology
• ISSN: 0032-9452; 1555-6425
• DOI: 10.1134/S0032945219040167

On the basis of material from expeditions to the Laptev Sea in 2014, information is presented on occurrence, spatial-bathymetric distribution, water temperature and salinity, and types of ground in habitats of six species of eelpouts: shulupaoluk Lycodes jugoricus , pale eelpout L. pallidus , polar eelpout L. polaris , Arctic eelpout L. reticulatus , archer eelpout L. sagittarius, and wattled eelpout L. cf. palearis. Specimens similar to the wattled eelpout L. cf. palearis are found in this sea for the first time—in shallow water of Kotelniy Island (20–43 m). The polar eelpout is a common, relatively abundant, and widely distributed species in the Laptev Sea. Its frequency of occurrence is 24.7 vs. 1.2−6.2% of the other five species. The size of captured specimens, as well as the length-weight ratio of shulupaoluk and polar eelpout, is reported. Diet composition of shulupaoluk, polar eelpout, and Arctic eelpout is examined.