Pollack
D-Pollack, Steinköhler; GB-Pollock; DK-Lubbe; PL-Rdzawiec; LV-Pollaks; EST-Pollak; RU-Серебристая сайда; FIN-Lyyraturska; S-Lyrtorsk
Characters
1) Clearly superior mouth.
2) Lateral line above pectoral fin strongly curved upwards.
3) Anus under front half of first dorsal fin.
●) Three dorsal fins and 2 anal fins.
●) Body light yellowish to greenish, back darker. Juveniles sometimes with orange-brown stripes.
Usually 30 to 60 cm, maximal up to 130 cm length and 10 kg weight.
Similar species
Saithe - lateral line straight and white accentuated; anus under back end of first dorsal fin; interior of mouth often black (vs. never black in pollack).
Whiting - inferior mouth; small black spot above origin of pectoral fin.
Blue Whiting - large distance between second and third dorsal fin (almost touching each other in pollack); first anal fin about 4-times as long as second dorsal fin.
Haddock - clearly inferior mouth; with barbel on chin; big black spot above middle of pectoral fin.
Biology
Lives in small groups, over firm ground often above 100 m depth. For reproduction they gather together in big swarms in bigger depth (about 150 m). Young individuals live nearer to the coast.Diet
They feed on small swarm fish, like Herring, Sprat and Sandeel; beside squid and shrimps.Importance
Commercially strongly used.Endangerment
Heavily fished in the Baltic Sea.Pollachius pollachius
