BURBOT

ENVIRONMENT YUKON

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BURBOT
Lota lota (Linnaeus). An eel like, elongate body tapering to a posterior rounded tail, flattened short head, large mouth with a single barbel under the chin, and two spineless dorsal fins can only describe the burbot. Although the body feels slippery, there are small embedded scales covered with slime. Adults are olive-green to dark brown on their back and sides with irregular pale blotches. Burbot may reach 4 feet in length and a weight of 75 pounds, but the average Yukon fish is under 10 pounds. They are often called lingcod, ling, maria, or loche. They are voracious feeders, feeding mainly at night on fish, though aquatic insects, crustaceans, plankton and fish eggs can make up a part of their diet. They are easily caught on baited set lines, as they are bottom dwellers.