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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Gadiformes (Cods) > Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes) > Merlucciinae
Etymology: Merluccius: Latin, mar, maris = the sea + Latin, lucius = pike (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 50 - 1000 m (Ref. 112558), usually 50 - 550 m (Ref. 58452). Deep-water, preferred 25°C (Ref. 107945); 29°N - 19°S, 19°W - 15°E (Ref. 58452)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

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 (Ref. 6524).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 80.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26999)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

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.

Feeds mainly on small fishes and partly on squids and shrimps (Ref. 1371). Marketed mostly fresh and frozen, also used for fishmeal and oil (Ref. 1371). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 1371.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Cohen, D.M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto and N. Scialabba, 1990. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (Order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(10). Rome: FAO. 442 p. (Ref. 1371)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

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Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00513 (0.00237 - 0.01110), b=3.08 (2.90 - 3.26), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 4.5 ±0.63 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.39(?); assuming tm>=2).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): High.

Merluccius polli Cadenat, 1950