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Merlangius merlangus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Whiting
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
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Merlangius merlangus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Merlangius merlangus (Whiting)
Merlangius merlangus
Picture by Morris, P.

Spain country information

Common names: Liba, Merlà, Merlan
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Found in Galicia (Ref. 86578).
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Cohen, D.M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto and N. Scialabba, 1990
National Database: ICTIMED

Common names from other countries

Merlan, Plegonero, Мерланг, ... more

Classification / Names Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Gadiformes (Cods) > Gadidae (Cods and haddocks)
Etymology: Merlangius: French, merlan = a fish (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Linnaeus.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecología

marino; salobre bentopelágico; oceanodromo (Ref. 51243); rango de profundidad 10 - 200 m (Ref. 1371), usually 30 - 100 m (Ref. 1371).   Temperate; 72°N - 35°N, 27°W - 42°E

Distribución Países | Áreas FAO | Ecosistemas | Ocurrencias, apariciones | Point map | Introducciones | Faunafri

Northeast Atlantic: southeastern Barents Sea and Iceland to Portugal, also in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Adriatic Sea and adjacent areas. Rare in the northwestern Mediterranean.

Length at first maturity / Tamaño / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm 28.2, range 28 - 30 cm
Max length : 91.5 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 106276); common length : 23.5 cm TL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 1371); peso máximo publicado: 3.1 kg (Ref. 40637); edad máxima reportada: 20 años (Ref. 35388)

Short description Morfología | Morfometría

Espinas dorsales (total): 0; Radios blandos dorsales (total): 30-40; Radios blandos anales: 30 - 35. Body elongate; head small. Chin barbel small or absent. Lateral-line canals on head with pores. Color is variable; yellowish-brown, dark blue or green, sides yellowish grey, white and silvery on belly; often with a small dark blotch at the upper base of the pectoral fin.

Biología     Glosario (por ej. epibenthic)

More commonly found from 30 to 100 m, mainly on mud and gravel bottoms, but also on sand and rock. Feed on shrimps, crabs, mollusks, small fish, polychaetes and cephalopods. Migrate to the open sea only after the first year of life. Eggs are pelagic. Larvae and juveniles are associated with jellyfish. Upon maturity, small chin barbel characteristic of juveniles disappear (Ref. 53061). Spawn in batches (Ref. 51846). Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; eaten steamed, broiled and baked (Ref. 9988).

Life cycle and mating behavior Madurez | Reproducción | Puesta | Huevos | Fecundidad | Larva

Oviparous, sexes are separate (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | Referencias | Coordinador | Colaboradores

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)

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