CODFISH

CODFISH, a group of marine fishes that includes Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), coalfish, pollack, haddock, ling, pouting, and whiting, as well as rocklings and freshwater burbot. Soft rayed fins, one, two, or three dorsal fins, and one or two anal fins are present in these fishes. The pelvic fins are situated far forward in front of the pectoral fin base and under the throat, and the liver is huge and greasy. The codfish is one of the most important and largest economically fished fish species.

The Atlantic codfish has a silvery belly and olive green to brown flanks with darker markings. The little barbel under the chin, the pointed snout, the white lateral line, and the presence of three dorsal fins all help to identify it. Large codfish can grow to be 5 feet (1–5 metres) long and weigh up to 210 pounds (95 kg). The codfish can withstand a wide variety of temperatures and can be found in both temperate and Arctic waters. It is omnivorous and voracious, eating crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, worms, and fish (particularly Norway lobster Nephrops in European seas). Codfish are prolific, with a large female producing up to 7 million eggs, albeit only a small percentage of these reach maturity. CLASS: Pisces, FAMILY: Gadidae, ORDER: Gadiformes,