Species
Capelin
Mallotus villosus
Capelin is a small schooling forage fish that is eaten by cod, seabirds, seals, and whales in northern oceans.
Ecoregions
Norwegian Current
Ecoregion types
Polar & Subpolar
Trophic levels
Secondary Consumer
Video
No video mapped for this species yet.
About this species
Species identity
Mallotus villosus is a subarctic fish that feeds on zooplankton and becomes a major prey resource for larger predators. In Norwegian Current ecosystems it helps move production from plankton into upper food-web levels.
Where it lives
Capelin occurs in subarctic and Arctic waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. In the Norwegian and Barents Sea region it is especially important as a forage fish tied to current-driven plankton production.
Role in the ecosystem
Capelin is one of the clearest examples of a forage fish supporting many predators at once.
Explore and connect
Open the secondary consumer view and compare this species with related marine life.