Arctic Alligatorfish (Ulcina olrikii)

The Arctic Alligatorfish or Ulcina olrikii is one of the over 200 different species of fish that can survive the frigid temperatures of the Arctic Ocean. Arctic Alligatorfish are not very large only growing to 3.4 inches (8.6 cm) and are also found in the extreme Northern Parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These Deep Sea Fish are brown in coloration with dark spots on their bodies and only one dorsal fin. They have a short body with a broad head and short barbels on their upper jaw. As you can see they have relatively large eyes for their body size, this helps them see at such great depths in murky waters.

Arctic Alligatorfish are found in a great variety of depths up to 500 meters deep! They are often found close to a sandy bottom where they feed on polychaete, worms, amphipods and ostracods. They often become prey themselves to the much larger Halibut. There is little known about the sexual reproduction of this species of saltwater fish, but scientists have confirmed that they only lay about 250 eggs maximum at a time, which is small compared to many other species. If you have any additional information or pictures of the Arctic Alligatorfish please leave a comment!