Distribution and Some Aspects of Biology of Lycodes brunneofasciatus (Zoarcidae) in the Sea of Okhotsk Waters off Kamchatka in Autumn 2012 and Summer 2016

Abstract—

The first data on the distribution, habitat conditions, size composition and feeding of Lycodes brunneofasciatus (Zoarcidae) in the Sea of Okhotsk waters off the coast of Kamchatka are presented. High values of the distribution density of the species were recorded on the eastern slope of the TINRO depression and in the area north of the First Kuril Strait. The depth of catches of eelpout varied from 120 to 436 m, its highest relative abundance is typical for 200–300 and 401–436 m. In the study area, L. brunneofasciatus is predominantly an inhabitant of the Okhotsk intermediate water mass where it is found at a water temperature at the bottom of 0–1.8°C. This species is represented in catches by individuals with a total length of 32–72 cm. Bivalvia, Amphipoda, Gastropoda and Polychaeta prevailed in the diet of tawnystripe eelpout. In addition, Echiura was found in the stomach of one of the studied specimens with a length of 69 cm.