Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fish species and information / pictures of Atlantic cod - Gadus morhua

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fish species information

Scientific Name
Gadus morhua

Common Name
Atlantic cod

Biology
This is an epibenthic-pelagic species (Ref. 58426). It is widely distributed in a variety of habitats, from the shoreline down to the continental shelf. Cod form schools during the day. Cod are omnivorous; they feed at dawn or dusk on invertebrates and fish, including young cod. Cod spawn once a year, in batches (Ref. 51846). The most important stocks are the Norwegian Arctic stock in the Barents Sea and the Icelandic stock. The populations around Greenland and Newfoundland have declined dramatically (Ref. 35388). Results of a 30-yr time-series analysis of a heavily exploited population supports the hypothesis that size-selective fishing induces genetic changes in growth -- small size-at-age continued despite little fishing for over a decade and good conditions for growth (Ref. 81225; 81226). Older and larger cod had been found to produce larger eggs with

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Cods and haddocks (Gadidae)

Distribution

Region

Northwest to Northeast Atlantic

Distribution

Northwest to Northeast Atlantic: Cape Hatteras to Ungava Bay along the North American coast; east and west coast of Greenland; around Iceland; coasts of Europe from the Bay of Biscay to the Barents Sea, including the region around Bear Island.

Range

80°N - 35°N, 95°W - 61°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

15 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

600 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 600 m (Ref. 1371), usually 150 - 200 m (Ref. 54441)

Trophic Level

3.73 s.e. 0.12 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

200 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (rm=0.2-1.1; also Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A1bd)