Burbot

Key Characteristics:

  • 14-20 preanal myomeres
  • 35-42 postanal myomeres
  • Isocercal tail
1

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

3

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

4

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

5

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

6

Larval Burbot. United States Fish Wildlife Service. Marian Shaffer. 2017.

Dr. Auer’s Dichotomous Key

  • Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
  • Chin barbels present (3A)
  • Mouth Terminal; single barbel on lower jaw; usually 10-20 mm TL; pigment restricted to dorsum of stomach and head; no dark lateral band (4A)
    • Gadidae

Adult History 

  • Physical Description
    • Elongated dorsal (2 fins) and anal fins (52-76 rays), single barbel under the chin, the second ray is elongated, fine scales, no spines, fine teeth on upper and lower jaws, terminal-wide mouth, and eel-like body shaped
  • Spawning Habitat
    • Shallow Water (0-5 meters deep)
    • Near the surface of shallow water
  • Spawning Substrate
    • Under ice or in slow-moving water
    • Eggs are deposited on hard clay, gravel, stones, sandy bottoms, and deep shoals
  • Spawning Behavior
    • Occurs mostly at night
    • No nests are built
    • No parental care
    • Migrates upstream to shallow water to spawn
  • Time of Year
    • December – January in Lake Michigan
    • Eggs hatch between April – June
    • Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 30 – 40°F
  • Diet
    • Omnivore
    • Small fish, fish eggs, clams, crayfish, and aquatic crustaceans
Sea Grant

Adult Burbot. UW – Sea Grant, UW – Madison, and NOAA. John Lyons. 2013.

Adult Burbot. UW – Sea Grant, UW – Madison, and NOAA. John Lyons.

Adult Burbot. UW – Sea Grant, UW – Madison, and NOAA. John Lyons. 2013.

Reference Page