Abstract:We observed, measured, anatomized, and photographed the external shape, meristic and metric characters, digestive system, and reproductive system of Anarrhichthys ocellatus. The results are as follows: the body type of the A. ocellatus is anguilliform, the skin color is black or rubricans without any mackerel scales, and there are a number of dollar spot-like eyes on the head, back, and dorsal fin. The number of spots on the dorsal fin, pectoral fin and anal fin were 232~267, 15~22, and 189~220, respectively. A. ocellatus has no ventral fin, and the tail fin is linked to the dorsal fin and pectoral fin and cannot be distinguished. There are two incomplete lateral lines on each side, the upper is 18–25 and the lower is 76~85. The female lateral line is distinct. However, that of the male is not. A. ocellatus also has no pyloric caeca, and the number of upward gill rakers, downward gill rakers, and vertebrae are 49~70, 55~73, and 232~271, respectively. Besides, the magnitude of variation in the total length/standard length is small, with little difference between females and males. The values of the head length/proboscis length, head length/eye diameter, and standard length/intestine length not only vary largely, but present poor linear correlation, with great differences between females and males. Therefore, the females and males can be distinguished. The relationship between weight and length: W = 0.0337Sl2.4798 (R2 = 0.9992), for females, W = 0.0326Sl2.486 (R2 = 0.9990); and for males, W = 0.0359Sl2.4672 (R2 = 0.9995). The digestive system consists of the digestive tract and digestive glands, and the oropharyngeal cavity is large; A. ocellatus has jaw teeth, without cavities and plow teeth, the pharyngeal teeth are well-developed, the stomach is “I”-shaped and large. The intestines are wide and short, and the ratio of intestine length/total length is 0.45. The related traits and characteristics show that the A. ocellatus is carnivorous and hermaphroditic. The ovaries (Ⅲ~Ⅳ) are elliptical, pink, and left right symmetrical. The testes (Ⅲ~Ⅳ) are “Y”-shaped and pink.
