Species learning profile
Capelin
Mallotus villosus
Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a saltwater fish associated with open ocean habitat in Arctic. Huge spawning runs deliver ocean food directly onto beaches.
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At a glance
- 水域
- 海水
- Habitat
- 远洋
- 最大长度
- 25 cm
- 分布范围
- Arctic
- 科
- Osmeridae
- 目
- Osmeriformes
Observe
How to identify Capelin
- Huge spawning runs deliver ocean food directly onto beaches.
- Guide context: open ocean habitat in Arctic.
- Reported maximum length: 25 cm — roughly ruler-length. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with open ocean habitat across Arctic. With little fixed shelter, currents, temperature fronts, depth, and moving prey define its open-ocean world.
Behavior
Forms immense schools and rolls onto shore to spawn
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Plankton.
Ecological role
A keystone prey for cod, seabirds, whales, and seals.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Capelin可长到约 25 厘米，常见于远洋附近。
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Wide-ranging ocean fish can cross many jurisdictions, so bycatch, harvest limits, and international cooperation matter.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Capelin in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections