Scientific Name
Ophiodon elongatus

Common Name
Lingcod

Biology
Ranges from the intertidal to 475 m depth (Ref. 6793). Adults are found near rocks, inshore and to 427 m (Ref. 2850). Young occur on sand or mud bottom of bays and inshore areas (Ref. 2850). Both migratory and non-migratory populations exist (Ref. 6885). Adults feed mostly on other fishes but also take crustaceans, octopi and squid (Ref. 4925). Young feed on copepods and other small crustaceans (Ref. 6885). A very important sport and commercial species (Ref. 2850). The liver is rich in vitamin A (Ref. 6885). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Has sharp teeth and gill rakers that can cut fingers if handled.

Classification

Classified By

Girard, 1854

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Greenlings (Hexagrammidae)

Distribution

Region

Northeast Pacific

Distribution

Northeast Pacific: Shumagin Islands in the western Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Possibly occurring in the Bering Sea (Ref. 6793).

Range

60°N - 31°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

475 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 475 m (Ref. 6793)

Trophic Level

4.32 s.e. 0.72 Based on food items.

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

152 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0002 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (63 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=4; tmax=16;)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 13513)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated