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)