The capelin or caplin (Mallotus villosus) is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Among others, whales, seals, Atlantic cod, Atlantic mackerel, squid and seabirds prey on capelin, in particular during the spawning season while the capelin migrate south. Capelin spawn on sand and gravel bottoms or sandy beaches at the age of two to six years. When spawning on beaches, capelin have an extremely high post-spawning mortality rate which, for males, is close to 100%.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Atlantic Capelin being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Mallotus catervarius
- Hypomesus pretiosus
- Clupea pallasii
- Engraulis mordax
- Engraulis ringens
- Thaleichthys pacificus
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Osmeriformes
- Family
- Osmeridae
- Genus
- Mallotus
- Species
- Mallotus villosus
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