North Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) fish species and information / pictures of North Pacific hake - Merluccius productus

North Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Merluccius productus

Common Name
North Pacific hake

Biology
Inhabit oceanic and coastal areas, but mainly on the continental shelf (Ref. 1371). Although often classified as demersal, the distribution and behavior suggest a largely pelagic existence (Ref. 1371). Adults live in large schools in waters overlying the continental shelf and slope except during the spawning season when they are found several hundred miles seaward (Ref. 1371). A nocturnal feeder (Ref. 6885) that feed on a variety of fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 1371). Important prey for sea lions and small cetaceans (Ref. 2850); also prey of dogfish (Ref. 11384).

Classification

Classified By

Ayres, 1855

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Merluccid hakes (Merlucciidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: northern Vancouver Island, Canada to northern part of the Gulf of California. A record from the Gulf of Alaska is doubtful.

Range

51°N - 15°N, 130°W - 77°W

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

1000 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 1000 m (Ref. 9316), usually ? - 229 m (Ref. 2850)

Trophic Level

4.35 s.e. 0.77 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

91.0 cm

Common Length

60.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=17; tm=4; also Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)