Benguela hake (Merluccius polli)

Scientific name: Merluccius polli Cadenat, 1950

Benguela hake (Merluccius polli)

The Benguela hake (Merluccius polli) is a marine fish of the family Merlucciidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, off the coast of tropical West Africa, from Mauritania to Angola. Range reported to extend to off southwest Africa near Cape Frio, Namibia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 45-52. Head large and little depressed. Pectoral fin tips usually reaching the origin of anal fin in small but not in large individuals. Scales easily shed. Color usually blackish on back, steel gray to blackish on belly; caudal fin white-edged.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Merluccius polli
Family
Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes)
Order
Gadiformes (Cods)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
80.0
Common length
40.0
Depth range
50–910 m (164–2986 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 50 - 910 m, usually 50 - 550 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: off the coast of tropical West Africa, from Mauritania to Angola. Range reported to extend to off southwest Africa near Cape Frio, Namibia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.39(?); assuming tm>=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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