What is "eelpout"

Burbot \Bur"bot\, n. [F. barbote, fr. barbe beard. See 1st Barb.] (Zo["o]l.) A fresh-water fish of the genus Lota, having on the nose two very small barbels, and a larger one on the chin.

Note: The fish is also called an eelpout or ling, and is allied to the codfish. The Lota vulgaris is a common European species. An American species ( Lota maculosa) is found in New England, the Great Lakes, and farther north.

n. 1 Any fish of the family Zoarcidae. 2 (context obsolete English) A yellow flower of uncertain type, possibly the (vern eel-ware pedia=1), (taxlink Ranunculus fluitans species noshow=1).

1. n. marine eellike mostly bottom-dwelling fishes of northern seas [syn: pout]

2. elongate freshwater cod of northern Europe and Asia and North America having barbels around its mouth [syn: burbot, ling, cusk, Lota lota]

The eelpouts are the ray-finned fish family Zoarcidae. As the common name suggests, they are somewhat eel-like in appearance, with elongated bodies and the dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal fin. All of the roughly 300 species are marine and mostly bottom-dwelling, some at great depths.

They are conventionally placed in the " perciform" assemblage; in fact, the Zoarcoidei seem to be specialized members of the Gasterosteiformes- Scorpaeniformes group of Acanthopterygii.

The largest member of the family is Zoarces americanus, which may reach 1.1 m in length. Other notable family members include Lycodapus and Gymnelus.