[Freshwater] Order Gadiformes Family Lotidae(lings, rocklings, burbots). Burbot Lota lota(Linnaeus, 1758). Max length: 152cmTL common length: 40.0 cm TL Korean name/mo-o-kae(모오케) Chinese name/江鱈 D1/soft rays 10~15, D2/soft rays 71~88. Anal/soft rays, 69~85. P1/16~23. P2/6~8 Vertebrae/61~66. Gill rakers(새파)/5~10. Branchiostegal(새조골)/7. Pyloric caeca(유문수;幽門垂)/21~67.
Distribution; Circumarctic in freshwater. Europe/Loire drainage, France eastward to White, Barents and Arctic Sea basins; upper Volga drainage; western Caspian basin; rivers draining to Black Sea; Rhône drainage(France); in Italy native only in Po drainage. In Siberia eastward to River Lena, northern China, northernmost Korean peninsula(upper reach of Yalu river). North America: Throughout Canada, Alaska and northern USA(south to Pennysylvannia, Kentucky, Missouri, Wyoming and Washington. General; Body long and streamlined. Head slightly depressed and body compressed. Upper jaw longer than lower jaw, and protruded ahead. Posterior end of upper jaw surpasses far behind of posterior margin of eye. Single barbel under the center of lower jaw, its length almost equal to upper jaw. Gill rakers short. With 2 dorsal fins. First dorsal fin short; the second dorsal fin long, at least 6 times as long as the first. Anal fin origin located slightly behind of the origin of second dorsal fin. Posterior ends of Anal and second dorsal fin are almost in contact with the caudal fin. Pelvic fin origin anterior to pectoral fin origin. Pectorals short and rounded; caudal rounded, with 40 rays. Color is yellow, light tan to brown with a pattern of dark brown or black on the body, head and fins. Pelvic fins pale, others dark and mottled..
The only member of Lotidae family which lives in freshwater. Crepuscular and nocturnal. Adults are found in well oxygenated flowing waters and large, deep lakes as well as large rivers with slow-moving current. They occur from estuaries of large lowland rivers as well as from small mountain streams, preferring deep waters in summer. They seek shelter under rocks, in crevices on the river banks, among roots of trees and dense vegetation. Those in rivers tend to congregate in deep holes throughout the year, except at spawning. Movements into shallower water during summer nights are related to feeding.
Smaller individuals feed on insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks and other invertebrates with a changing preference for fishes in larger individuals. In Central Europe, males mature at 2 years while females at 3 years. Spawning occurs in lower reaches of rivers from November to March, at temperatures below 6°C. Spawning occurs at night, with spawners forming a great globular mass, which constantly moves and rolls on the bottom, each pushing toward the center, or at least milling around close together, releasing eggs or sperm. May undertake short spawning migrations. Female lay 200,000 eggs. Eggs are semipelagic, 1.2-1.8 mm in diameter and slightly sticky hatching. There is a description of hatching after 40-70 days(fishbase.org), and a description of hatching after 7-10 days under the condition of 9-13°C water temperature(Korea; Fisheries Life Resources Information Center). Larvae are positively phototactic, floating below the surface in March and April. Larvae feed on drifting invertebrates or zooplankton. Juveniles are benthic, grow rapidly, reach about 8 cm SL within first year.
Source of oil. Sold mainly salted. Liver is sold smoked or canned in Europe. Processed into fishmeal. Because of its nocturnal habits and its slow movements, this fish is not very much appreciated by sport fishermen. Flesh is tasty but a little dry.
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