Burbot (Lota lota)

Burbot are very interesting and unique fish that look like a cross between an eel and catfish. A distinguishing feature is that they have only one barbel on their chin. The only fish that you can confuse it with is a bowfin, but bowfins have a contiguous dorsal fin while burbot do not. Burbot is an ancient fish that is the only one of its kind in its genus. There appears to have been more similar fish in its genus or family, but they seem to have gone extinct.

Burbot like to live in large cold rivers around the globe in the northern hemishphere. They also live in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Erie.When young they eat small invertebraes such as copepods and cladocerans, and as adults they are piscivores eating other fish such as lampreys, trout, perch, suckers, etc.etc.