Burbot (Lota lota) - Native?

A 10-inch adult burbot from Hollenbeck River, Canaan.

Identification. Long, slender body. Very small scales. Two dorsal fins (first short, second very long). Single long anal fin. No spines. Filamentous extensions on pelvic fins. Brown to olive on back, fading on sides, white on belly. Dark mottled markings cover entire head, body and fins.

Size. Commonly 8 to 11 inches. State survey max. size 12.2 inches. Max. reported size 4.9 feet. World Record 18.7 pounds.

The burbot is the only member of the cod family that lives entirely in freshwater.

Distribution. Burbot have a circumpolar distribution. In North America, they are distributed throughout Alaska and Canada south into the Northern United States. Connecticut is the southern extreme of the burbot’s range in Eastern North America. They have been found in only a few locations in the state, two tributaries of the northern Housatonic drainage and, more rarely, in the mainstem and one tributary of the Connecticut River. They are typically uncommon to rare where found.

All maps created in 2009. See CT DEEP Fish Community Data for updated distributions.

Habits. A nocturnal fish that mostly inhabits deep coldwater lakes and large rivers. Stream populations spend the day in deep holes or under rocks, ledges or tree roots. They typically breed in aggregate, forming a large, writhing ball of spawning fish. Can be caught by angling with bait on the bottom. Burbot are not easy to keep in home aquariums because they require cold, good-quality water, low-light conditions and live or fresh food.

Comments. The burbot is the only completely freshwater member of the cod family. Little is known of its life history in Connecticut. The Housatonic drainage population appears to be locally restricted and small. The only thing known of the Connecticut River population is that a few have been taken by electrofishing and that anglers occasionally catch them, especially around Hartford. They may spawn somewhere north in the river and occasionally drift down into Connecticut. It is uncertain whether burbot are native to the state. They may represent a remnant population or they may have been introduced. The burbot is listed as a Connecticut State Endangered Species.

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.