Scientific Name
Molva dypterygia

Common Name
Blue ling

Biology
Found mostly from 350-500 m depth on muddy bottoms. Feed on crustaceans and fish (flatfishes, gobies, rocklings) (Ref. 1371).

Classification

Classified By

Pennant, 1784

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Hakes and burbots (Lotidae)

Distribution

Region

Northeast Atlantic

Distribution

Northeast Atlantic: southwestern Barents Sea, sometimes north to Spitsbergen, southeastern Greenland, southern coast of Iceland, around the British Isles and south to Morocco and into the Mediterranean. Northwest Atlantic: Newfoundland.

Range

79°N - 29°N, 65°W - 44°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

150 m

Depth To - meters

1000 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 150 - 1000 m (Ref. 54594), usually 350 - 500 m (Ref. 54594)

Trophic Level

4.48 s.e. 0.80 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

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

155 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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: commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (75 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.13-0.16; tm=8-11; tmax=20)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated