Archer Eelpout, Lycodes sagittarius

This species is one of the many uncommon eelpouts and is known only from a few specimens. It can be separated from its Canadian relatives by its small pelvic fins, underslung mouth, lack of large nostril-like pores around its mouth, lack of chin crests, the presence of scales on its body, and the numbers of rays in the various fins. Otherwise, the archer has a typical eelpout body, including large fan-like pectoral fins, a heavily built head, an elongate body, eyes near the top of its head, a dorsal fin that runs the length of its body, and an anal fin that runs only partway up its belly. Its colour is grey-brown to dark brown and it has seven to nine oblique, lightly coloured bars on its dorsal fin and upper back. The scales that are present on this fish are lighter than the background colour. Individuals do not exceed a length of 28 cm.

The archer eelpout has been reported only from Bathhurst Inlet, NWT, and from the Kara Sea off northern Asia. It has been collected from depths of 335 to 600 m and seems to prefer mud-sand bottoms at temperatures lower than 0°C. Their food is worms, clams, snails, and crustaceans. Spawning likely occurs during the late summer to early autumn.