| Family: |
Merlucciidae (Merluccid hakes) |
| Max. size: |
80 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 50 - 1248 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
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). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; 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. |
| Biology: |
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. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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