Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) fish species and information / pictures of Atlantic halibut - Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Common Name
Atlantic halibut

Biology
Adults are benthic but occasionally pelagic (Ref. 4705). Feed mainly on other fishes (cod, haddock, pogge, sand-eels, herring, capelin), but also takes cephalopods, large crustaceans and other bottom-living animals. Batch spawner (Ref. 51846). Growth rate varies according to density, competition and availability of food. Slow growth rate and late onset of sexual maturity, halibut populations can be seriously affected by overfishing (Ref. 35388). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; can be steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Also Ref. 58426.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Righteye flounders (Pleuronectidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to Spitsbergen, Barents Sea, Iceland and eastern Greenland. Western Atlantic: southwestern Greenland and Labrador in Canada to Virginia in USA (Ref. 7251).

Range

79°N - 36°N, 77°W - 55°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

50 m

Depth To - meters

2000 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 50 - 2000 m (Ref. 4705)

Trophic Level

4.53 s.e. 0.79 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

470 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (88 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tmax=30; tm=10; K=0.02-0.2; Fec=1,300,000; also Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Endangered (EN) (A1d)