Capelin
Mallotus villosus
Mallotus villosus, the capelin, is a small schooling forage fish that feeds on plankton and small crustaceans.
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About this species
Species identity
Mallotus villosus, the capelin, is a small schooling forage fish that feeds on plankton and small crustaceans. It is a key energy-transfer species in northern oceans because many fish, seabirds, seals, and whales depend on it.
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 helps explain how marine food webs function through its ecological role, habitat use, and connection to broader ecosystem change.
Explore and connect
Open the species distribution layer to compare this range with ocean basins, ecosystems, and related marine context.





