Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)

Scientific name: Ophiodon elongatus Girard, 1854

Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)

The Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is a marine fish of the family Hexagrammidae. Native range: Northeast Pacific, Shumagin Islands in the western Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Possibly occurring in the Bering Sea.

Biology

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

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ophiodon elongatus
Family
Hexagrammidae (Greenlings)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
152
Depth range
475 m (1558 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range ? - 475 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Northeast Pacific: Shumagin Islands in the western Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Possibly occurring in the Bering Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=4; tmax=16;)

Sources

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

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