Cod
D-Dorsch, Kabeljau; GB-Cod; DK-Torsk; PL-Dorz; LT-Mence; LV-Menca; EST-Tursk; RU-Атлантическая треска; FIN-Turska; S-Torsk
Characters
1) Long barbel on chin.
2) Mouth markedly inferior.
3) White lateral line clearly accentuated.
●) 3 dorsal fins and 2 anal fins.
●) Light-brown, yellowish or greenish with striking dark-brownish spott pattern.
Often 40 to 70 cm, in former times up to 200 cm length and over 95 kg weigth.
Similar species
Whiting - barbel very small or missing; lateral line not white.
Haddock - barbel smaller; lateral line not white; with distinctive black spot located over pectoral fin.
Bib - mouth only about as long as eye diameter; lateral line not white.
Poor cod - mouth only about as long as eye diameter; lateral line not white.
Biology
Often in a swarm near the bottom in up to 600 m depth. Spawns in spring with up to 5 million eggs per female. Young fish often live in more shallow water. The way of living differs greatly among the different populations of the Atlantik, the Baltic Sea and the Pacific. The Bornholm Basin in the Baltic Sea is the most important spawning area during the summer months. Live expectancy up to 25 years.Diet
Feeds on smaller fish like herring and sandeel, crabs, shrimps, worms and sea shells.Importance
Commercially strongly used as a popular food fish; one of the most wanted fishes in the Baltic Sea. In former times traded mainly as dried fish "Stockfish" and dried and salted fish "Clipfish".Endangerment
Stock declines; mainly due to overfishing, but also because of water pollution and habitat destruction.Gadus morhua
