Gulf hake (Urophycis cirrata)

Scientific name: Urophycis cirrata Goode & Bean, 1896

The Gulf hake (Urophycis cirrata) is a marine fish of the family Phycidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, northern coasts of South America to the Orinoco, perhaps to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Upper limb of first gill arch with 2 or 3 rakers; the barbel very short, or absent in many specimens. A diffuse dusky blotch present on the opercle.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Urophycis cirrata
Family: Phycidae (Phycid hakes)
Order: Gadiformes (Cods)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 66.0
Common length: 40.0
Depth range: 27–684 m (89–2244 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 27 - 684 m, usually 360 - 470 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, northern coasts of South America to the Orinoco, perhaps to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of potential interest
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tmax=14; k=0.15-0.19)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026