Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774)
Polar cod
Boreogadus saida
photo by Dolgov, A.

 Family:  Gadidae (Cods and haddocks)
 Max. size:  40 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 7 years
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 0 - 400 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Circumpolar in the Arctic. North Atlantic: White Sea, Iceland, and southern Greenland into the Miramichi River, New Brunswick in Canada. North Pacific: Bering Sea to Cape Olyutorski, the Pribilof Islands, and Bristol Bay.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 42-57; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 33-44; Vertebrae: 49-57. Caudal fin deeply concave. Lower jaw slightly longer than upper jaw. Chin barbel very small. No lateral line pores on head. Scales small and embedded, not overlapping. Brownish along the back with many fine points; the sides and belly silvery; the fins dusky with pale margins (Ref. 1371).
 Biology:  Occurs in coastal habitats during summer and winter (Ref. 1371). Cryopelagic or epontic, from surface down to 1383 m (Ref. 58426). In the Beaufort Sea, it may also be found in brackish lagoons and in almost fresh water in river mouths (Ref. 1371). Although associated with the occurrence of ice (White Sea), it is present in ice-free near-shore waters (Alaska) (Ref. 1371). Onshore-offshore movements are associated with spawning and movements of the ice (Ref. 27547). Feeds mostly on epibenthic mysids, also amphipods, copepods and fishes (Ref. 1371). Also caught with mid-water trawls (Ref. 1371). Utilized as fishmeal and source of oil (Ref. 1371). Euryhaline and eurythermic.
 IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: OrtaƱez, Auda Kareen - 28.07.08
 Checked by: Luna, Susan M. - 25.04.94

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