| Family: |
Moridae (Morid cods) |
| Max. size: |
75 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,100.0 g; max. reported age: 20 years |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 175 - 3048 m |
| Distribution: |
North Pacific: Shikoku Island, Japan to Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea, the Gulf of California and Johnston Island. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 54-60; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 39-42. Head short; snout pointed; chin barbel short. Color variable from pale but definite blue gray or olive green throughout to deep violet or blue black; darker on outer edges of fins and very dark on edge of caudal and fins on ventral part of body; dark on lower part of gill cover and branchiostegals (Ref. 6885). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits the lower regions of the continental slope between 800 m and 1, 800 m. It appears that sex segregation is also basic to this species, but whether or not the species migrates extensively or uses the North American west coast slopes only as feeding areas is not known (Ref. 1371). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 9319). Taken frequently by deep slope water trawlers fishing for Microstomus pacificus and deepwater Sebastes species (Ref. 1371). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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