| Main Ref. | Nielsen, J.G., 1986 | ||||
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| Distribution |
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| Remarks | Inhabits soft mud bottoms in fairly deep water (Ref. 9988). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Feeds on crustaceans, polychaetes, brittle stars (Ref. 9988) and fishes (Ref. 58426). It is preyed upon by harp seals. Parasites of the species include 4 protozoans, 11 trematodes, 6 nematodes, 2 acanthocephalans and 1 copepod (Ref. 5951). See also Ref. 9000 for diet composition. |
| Substrate | Soft Bottom |
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| Substrate Ref. | |
| Special habitats | |
| Special habitats Ref. |
| Ref. | |
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| Associations | schooling; shoaling; |
| Associated with | |
| Association remarks | Two areas of concentrated spawning activity in the western and northern portions of the Gulf of Maine were identified, juveniles and adults appeared to be segregated by depth, but the relative position of the life stages with respect to depth varied seasonally (Ref. 94954). Low respiration rate reflects its sedentary, benthic nature (Ref. 54088). Larvae and juveniles from spawning stock north of Cape Cod travel southward being carried by water currents flowing west from Georges Bank. In the Gulf of Maine, no evidence of seasonal movement inshore or offshore. However, in Swedish waters observed to work up into shoaler water in autumn and back to deeper water in late winter and spring (Ref. 86779). |
| Parasitism |
| Feeding type | mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Feeding type ref | Nielsen, J.G., 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feeding habit | hunting macrofauna (predator) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feeding habit ref | Nielsen, J.G., 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trophic level(s) |
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