A bottom-dwelling, eel-like, marine fish (family Anarhichadidae), more than 1 m long, that has a dorsal fin extending the length of the body, and powerful jaws and strong teeth with which it crushes the echinoderms, crustaceans, and molluscs on which it feeds. It occurs along the east and west coasts of the North Atlantic, seldom moving from the rocky crevice in which it shelters. Its body produces an ‘antifreeze’ which allows it to thrive in temperatures close to freezing.