| Family: |
Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes) |
| Max. size: |
140 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 50 - 1000 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Baie Farte, Angola around Cape to Natal, South Africa. Also found on Valdivia Bank (26°18'S, 6°20'E). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 47-54; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 37-41. Light brown above, silvery to white below (Ref. 6605). |
| Biology: |
Found on the continental shelf and slope to depths over 1,000 m (Ref. 27121). Juveniles (to about 64 cm) feed on small crustaceans and small deep-sea fishes such as lanternfishes, whereas larger individuals feed chiefly on small hakes and jack mackerel (Ref. 1371); cannibalism is common (Ref. 27121). Migrates southward in the spring and northward in autumn (Ref. 1371). Breeds throughout the year, peaks of reproductive activity in August and September (Ref. 36731). Marketed smoked, frozen, and fresh on ice; eaten steamed, fried and baked (Ref. 9988). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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