Common ling

Common ling (Gadus luscus) is a species of fish in the family Gadidae, the true cods. It is also known as white ling and is native to the North Atlantic Ocean, where it is found on both sides of the Atlantic, from the Arctic Ocean to the Bay of Biscay in the east and from Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the west.

Description

The common ling is a long, slender fish with a small head and a large mouth. It has two dorsal fins, the first of which is short and the second long, and a single anal fin. The coloration is variable, but it is usually dark brown or black on the back and sides, with a lighter belly.

Habitat and Distribution

The common ling is a demersal fish, living on or near the seabed, where it feeds on a variety of prey including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. It is found at depths from 20 to 1000 meters, but is most common between 100 and 400 meters.

Reproduction

The common ling is a broadcast spawner, releasing its eggs and sperm into the water where fertilization takes place. The eggs are buoyant and drift with the currents until they hatch.

Commercial Importance

The common ling is commercially important and is caught for food in many parts of its range. It is marketed fresh, smoked, and frozen and is used in fish and chips and other dishes.

Conservation Status

The common ling is not currently considered to be threatened, but like all fish species, it is potentially vulnerable to overfishing and habitat loss.

See Also

• Cod
• Demersal fish
• Broadcast spawner