Burbot
Lota lota
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
| Diet | Sculpins and whitefish; smaller burbot feed on larvae, crayfish and other invertebrates |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: Up to 5 feet (152 cm); common length 15.7 inches (40 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | Circumarctic Freshwater |
| Habitat | Great Lakes and in colder streams of the area; also found in areas of Europe and Siberia |
Did you know?
- A burbot’s scales are very small, which makes its skin look smooth. But burbots are also slimy, which makes them feel slippery.
- A burbot’s small fins are adaptations to its bottom-dwelling lifestyle. There, this fish doesn’t need to fight currents or have strong endurance.
- We know where these deepwater fishes live because government management agencies make regular “census” catches to monitor the health of Great Lakes fisheries.
- The burbot looks like a cross between an eel and a catfish—with its long body and one fleshy “whisker” (barbel) on its chin.