saltwater, benthic, demersal
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Feature a prominent chin barbel, three dorsal fins, and two anal fins. They have a distinct curved white lateral line and a heavy, mottled body coloration ranging from greenish-brown to gray with small spots. The upper jaw overhangs the lower jaw.
- Habitat
- Found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.…
- Size & weight
- Typically 61 to 120 cm in length and weighing 5 to 11 kg…
- Diet
- Voracious opportunistic feeders; juveniles eat small cru…
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Physical characteristics
Feature a prominent chin barbel, three dorsal fins, and two anal fins. They have a distinct curved white lateral line and a heavy, mottled body coloration ranging from greenish-brown to gray with small spots. The upper jaw overhangs the lower jaw.
Habitat & distribution
Found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. They generally inhabit shelf waters at depths ranging from the shoreline down to 600 meters, preferring rocky, pebbly, or sandy bottoms.
Behavior
A gregarious species that often forms large shoals. They are known for long-distance migrations between spawning grounds and feeding grounds, moving based on seasonal water temperatures.
Diet
Voracious opportunistic feeders; juveniles eat small crustaceans while adults prey on fish such as herring, capelin, and sand eels, as well as crabs and mollusks.
Reproduction
Broadcast spawners that produce millions of eggs per year. Spawning typically occurs in winter and spring in specific oceanic banks. Larvae are pelagic and drift with ocean currents.
Ecological role
An apex predator in many North Atlantic marine ecosystems, they help regulate populations of smaller fish and invertebrates. They are a primary food source for seals and larger sharks.
Similar species
Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus) which has a smaller eye and different scale structure, and Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) which has a black lateral line and a dark blotch above the pectoral fin.
Identification tips
Look for the three distinct dorsal fins, the white lateral line that curves over the pectoral fin, and the single fleshy whisker-like barbel on the chin.
Interesting facts
Atlantic Cod have 'antifreeze' proteins in their blood that allow them to survive in sub-zero water temperatures. They are historically one of the most significant species in the development of Atlantic trade and exploration.