Ocean Fishes
Capelin
Mallotus vilosus
Also known as
Capelan (french), caplin, capeling, caplain, ceaplin, roller
Distribution
Circumpolar in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Ecosystem/Habitat
Coastal to open ocean
Feeding Habits
Filter feeder
Conservation Status
Not listed
Taxonomy
Order Osmerifromes (true or freshwater smelts & allies); Family Osmeridae (typical smelts)
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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+Capelin may be small, but they have a mighty role to play in northern ocean ecosystems. These small fish are a key forage species for countless marine animals. As an important prey source for Atlantic cod, the health of their populations is linked to the health of many cod populations in Atlantic Canada. Capelin are also part of the diet of animals like halibut, salmon, belugas, dolphins, seals and northern gannets. Additionally, capelin eggs are a food source for certain fish, such as winter flounder. Despite the significance of capelin to marine ecosystems in northern oceans, we still have a lot to learn about these small, forage fish.
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- American Plaice
- Arctic Char
- Atlantic Cod
- Atlantic Herring
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Atlantic Puffin
- Atlantic Walrus
- Atlantic Wolffish
- Basking shark
- Beluga Whale
- Blue Shark
- Bowhead Whale
- Bubblegum Coral
- Canary Rockfish
- Capelin
- Chinook Salmon
- Dungeness Crab
- Eulachon
- Fin Whale
- Fjords
- Giant Pacific Octopus
- Great White Shark
- Green Sea Turtle
- Greenland Halibut/Turbot
- Greenland Shark
- Humboldt Squid
- Humpback Whale
- Kelp Forests
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Lingcod
- Lion's Mane Jellyfish
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Lophelia Coral
- Narwhal
- North Atlantic Right Whale
- Northern Gannet
- Northern Shrimp
- Orca
- Pacific Herring
- Pacific White-sided Dolphin
- Pilot Whale
- Polar Bear
- Pom-Pom Anemones
- Redfish (Acadian & Deepwater)
- Sea Otter
- Sea Pens
- Sea Strawberry
- Seamounts
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