Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gadiformes (Cods) >
Moridae (Morid cods)
Etymology: Pseudophycis: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, phykon = seaweed; because of the habit of living among them (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Bacchus was the Roman god of wine. Forster used a variant spelling of the name. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Forster.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 26 - 700 m (Ref. 58489), usually 200 - 300 m (Ref. 54741). Subtropical; 33°S - 50°S, 137°E - 177°E (Ref. 54741)
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and around Australia, at least from Sydney to Adelaide, and around Tasmania. Often confused with Pseudophycis barbata (Ref.9563).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 52.0, range 45 - 55 cm
Max length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371); common length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9258)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Nostrils anterior to eye by about one-third of snout length. Pyloric caeca 6 to 8. Color reddish pink becoming paler ventrally, vertical fins with dark margins; a dark black blotch on the pectoral fin base.
Found usually on soft muddy or sandy bottoms. Also on rocky bottoms, in estuaries, bays and continental shelf (Ref. 9563). In New Zealand, most abundant in 200 to 300 m along the edge of the continental shelf. May be found at depths exceeding 700 m (Ref. 9258). Feeds primarily on fishes, cephalopods, crabs and other crustaceans. Utilized as frozen fillets as well as fish blocks; eaten steamed, fried, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 7.9 - 13.5, mean 11 °C (based on 43 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00589 (0.00301 - 0.01154), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.4(?); tm=4; Fec~1million).
Prior r = 0.42, 95% CL = 0.27 - 0.62, Based on 5 data-limited stock assessments.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref.
125649): High to very high vulnerability (71 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 56.8 [23.8, 116.8] mg/100g; Iron = 1.16 [0.65, 2.15] mg/100g; Protein = 19.6 [17.4, 21.5] %; Omega3 = 0.412 [0.214, 0.763] g/100g; Selenium = 47.5 [24.4, 100.0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 8.47 [2.69, 27.87] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.562 [0.389, 0.809] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
