Viviparous eelpout
The viviparous eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), also known as the, viviparous blenny and European eelpout is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is notable for being ovoviviparous and gives birth to live larvae (hence the description "mother of eels"). It is a common soup ingredient in Mediterranean countries. The bones are of greenish colour, due to a harmless pigment. Their skin is slimy and the colour is variable. Taxonomy The viviparous eelpout was first formally described as Blennius viviparus by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae with its type locality given as "European seas". In 1829, the French zoologist Georges Cuvier proposed the genus Zoarces for the eelpouts and subsequently B, viviparus was descignated as the type species of Zoarces, possibly by David Starr Jordan in 1917/ The specific name viviparus means "giving birth to live young", although the species is ovoviviparous. Description The viviparous eelpout has a slim, tapering body and resembles a small burbot (Lota lota), a wide head and mouth and protuberant lips. It has long, ribbon-like dorsal and anal fins which continue on to unite with the arrowhead-shaped caudal fin. This distinguishes this fish from the