Merlangius

Whiting ( Merlangius merlangus )

The whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ), also known as whiting, whiting or Gadden, is a species of fish in the cod family ( Gadidae ). It is found in the Northeast Atlantic from the Barents Sea and the waters off Iceland to Portugal as well as in the northern Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Features

Whiting have an elongated, slightly laterally flattened body. They reach a length of usually 30 to 40 and a maximum of 70 centimeters and a weight of three kilograms, the Rogner (females ) are generally larger. The basic color is highly variable, ranging from yellowish brown and olive brown on greenish to dark blue. The flanks are yellowish gray, the belly silvery white. Is often larger than the base of the pectoral fins, a dark spot. The relatively small head has a significantly protruding upper jaw and a small, worm-like Bartel on the chin, which is reversible in adult animals until complete disappearance. The scales are small and have on the sidelines at the head pores.

The seat has three dorsal fins 14 to 17, 16 to 19 and 18 to 22 the soft beams. The pectoral fins with 19 or 20 rays sit behind the six-rayed pelvic fins that sit directly under the gill cover. Of the two after the first fins is 28 to 32 with rays much larger than the second by 19 to 22 jets. Whiting swim subcarangiform.

The average life expectancy is 10, maximum 20 years.

Way of life

Whiting keep preferably in the open water over mud bottoms at depths of 30 to 100 meters. As a food serve various crustaceans, molluscs, fish and worms. The propagation takes place, depending on the population, in the spring or year-round instead. The spawn is delivered in groups on the open water. Larvae and young animals live near the coast in the vicinity of jellyfish and hike until about a year into the open sea.

Use

The whiting is an important food fish, which is mainly caught with trawls and fresh, dried, salted or frozen sold.