| Family: |
Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes) |
| Max. size: |
40.6 cm TL (male/unsexed); 70 cm TL (female); max.weight: 4,100.0 g |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 80 - 1170 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Atlantic: Georges Bank, New England to Suriname and French Guiana. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 45-51; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 35-41; Vertebrae: 51-53. Head rather long; mouth large; gill rakers short and thick, with blunt tips; pectoral fin tips reaching a vertical through anus in small fish but not in larger ones; overall color silvery white (Ref. 1371). |
| Biology: |
Offshore species which inhabit the outer part of the continental shelf and upper part of the slope. Feed at night when they come up towards the surface (Ref. 1371). Juveniles feed primarily on crustaceans (Ref. 58452). Adults' food consists primarily of fishes (particularly lantern fishes, sardines and anchovies) and, to a lesser extent, crustaceans and squids (Ref. 1371). Spawning occurs near the bottom at 330-550 m depth range from April to July in New England and from late spring to early autumn in the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean Sea (Ref. 58452). Marketed fresh, frozen and smoked. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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