Burbot
Lota lota
Status
Native to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Habitat
The animal normally is a resident of deep water.
The optimum temperature for this species is between 15.60 to 18.30C.
Range
Found in all Provinces and Territories of Canada.
Food
The burbot is a voracious night predator. It will
eat younger burbot and other fish species.
Appearance
Long slender body with a large wide head and small
eye. Light brown to yellow with dark brown to black mottling on back and side.
Two dorsal fins the 1st of which is short and the 2nd is
very long.
Breeding Biology
The burbot is one of the few freshwater fish that spawns in the
midwinter under the ice. The general period of spawning occurs between January
to March depending on Latitude. In general, spawning occurs in shallow waters
between 1to 4 feet or on gravel shoals in about 5 to 10 feet of water. Male
burbot arrive on the spawning grounds first, followed in 3 to 4 days by the
females. The mating activity only takes place at night and spawning grounds are
deserted during the day (surface temperatures during spawning run between .60
to 1.70C) . No nest is built and no care is given to the young. Eggs
of burbot hatch in about 30 days and the young appear between February and June.
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