(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - hake, blue
OTHER COMMON NAMES - blue hake, blue antimora, longfinned cod, flatnose codling, flatnose cod and Fr. antimore blue
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - ,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Gadiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Moridae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Antimora,
SPECIES AND SSP - rostrata,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Antimora rostrata
AUTHORITY - Gunther, 1878
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 258
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
The family moridae, moras, is a family of medium-sized deepwater fishes,
generally distributed throughout all deep oceans of the world on continental
slopes and in abyssal depths; sometimes abundant.
Moras have a relatively elongate body, tapering to a narrow caudal peduncle.
The head is relatively small, the snout blunt or with upper jaw projecting,
bony; mouth terminal or inferior; teeth few and minute, or absent, on roof
of mouth; chin barbel present or absent; eye large. Gill openings wide.
Branchiostegals 6-8. Fins: soft rayed; dorsals usually 2, occasionally 3;
caudal distinctly separate from dorsal and anal; anal, 1 or 2; pelvics in
advance of pectorals, thoracic or jugular, separated; pectorals well
developed. Body and head covered with cycloid scales. Paired projections
of anterior swim bladder attached to base of skull. Swim bladder
physoclistous. Vertebrae 52-60. Size to slightly over 50 cm long. Color
usually brown to black; silvery areas on some species.
No commercial value in the northwest Atlantic; of some interest in the
eastern Central Atlantic.
About 17 genera with a total of about 70 species; 6 species reported from
the northwest Atlantic, 1 with some regularity in the Canadian area.*258*
Haloporphyrus viola and Antimora viola are synonyms.*258*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 258
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
The blue hake does not occur in sufficient numbers in the Canadian Atlantic
area above 900 m to be of commercial value. It is widely used in
biochemical and physiological studies.*258*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - MARINE
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 258
LAND USE -
Water
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 258
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine FL3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 258
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The blue hake is a benthopelagic species, living close to mud bottom,
rarely moving upward into pelagic waters. This deepwater species was
captured by otter trawl in Norfolk Canyon, off Virginia, in the greatest
abundance in depths of 1300-2500 m, less commonly outside these depths.
It was found to be the dominant member of the benthic fish community at
this depth range. Populations in the northern part of its range occur in
shallower depths. Trawl catches from the continental slope off Labrador
(60degN lat) to the Nova Scotian slope (40degN lat) were taken at depths of
457-823 m. The shallowest depth of capture recorded was 229 m from the
southwest slope of the Grand Bank. The blue hake taken by otter trawl were
generally small, averaging 0.14 kg in weight for those taken at 457-549 m
to 0.36 kg for those from 732-823 m. Experimental longline catches were
made in 1280-2377 m, north of Flemish Cap. Specimens were larger,
averaging 0.6-1.6 kg. Water temperature at depths of 2400 m were 2.7 deg
C.*258*
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
larger benthic fishes
copepod - Lophoura tetraphylla
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 258
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Predation and competition: There is no definite information available on the
predators of the blue hake. It is suggested that they might be prey of
large, benthic fishes inhabiting the same area.*258*
Parasites and disease: There is little information available. It was
reported that a copepod Lophoura tetraphylla, was removed from the
musculature of a blue hake caught at a depth of 1700 m near the eastern edge
of the Grand Bank.*258*
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 258
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods Not Specified
General Squid, Octopus Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 258
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Food consists of bottom-living invertebrates including crustaceans and
squids. It is suggested food may sometimes be taken from mud bottom with
the aid of the spade-like mouth.*258*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Depth Preference: 500-1000 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 1000-1500 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: Greater than 1500 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: offshore
G Substrate: Mud or silt
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
The blue hake is a benthopelagic species, living close to mud bottom,
rarely moving upward into pelagic waters. This deepwater species was
captured by otter trawl in Norfolk Canyon, off Virginia, in the greatest
abundance in depths of 1300-2500 m, less commonly outside these depths.
It was found to be the dominant member of the benthic fish community at
this depth range. Populations in the northern part of its range occur in
shallower depths. Trawl catches from the continental slope off Labrador
(60degN lat) to the Nova Scotian slope (40degN lat) were taken at depths of
457-823 m. The shallowest depth of capture recorded was 229 m from the
southwest slope of the Grand Bank. The blue hake taken by otter trawl were
generally small, averaging 0.14 kg in weight for those taken at 457-549 m
to 0.36 kg for those from 732-823 m. Experimental longline catches were
made in 1280-2377 m, north of Flemish Cap. Specimens were larger,
averaging 0.6-1.6 kg. Water temperature at depths of 2400 m were 2.7 deg
C.*258*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Description: Body elongate, compressed, tapering to slender caudal. Head
small, depressed, upper jaw projecting, broad, roof-like over mouth,
conspicuous keels running from snout to posterior margin of eye; teeth
sharp, in bands on jaws and vomer; mouth subterminal; barbel on lower jaw;
eye moderately large. Gill rakers 10. Branchiostegals 7. Fins; dorsals,
2, first dorsal 4-7 rays, first ray prolonged, second dorsal, 48-56 rays,
long, extending to caudal peduncle; caudal slender, rounded; anal, 36-49
rays, deeply indented, appearing as two fins; pelvics, 5-7 rays, second ray
long, filamentous, jugular, pectorals, 17-25 rays, moderately large,
pointed, located low on sides. Scales small, 115 rows. Lateral line faint.
There is an occurence of a swim bladder, used to maintain high oxygen
pressures.*258*
Growth: Data on rate of growth are lacking, and age determination studies
have not been undertaken. Otoliths have been studied extensively but their
distinctions have been applied to generic identification rather than to
aging techniques. Blue hake of over 65 cm TL were noted to be of mature
size; usual length to 54.6 cm. Males averaged smaller in size than
females.*258*
Predation and competition: There is no definite information available on the
predators of the blue hake. It is suggested that they might be prey of
large, benthic fishes inhabiting the same area.*258*
Parasites and disease: There is little information available. It was
reported that a copepod Lophoura tetraphylla, was removed from the
musculature of a blue hake caught at a depth of 1700 m near the eastern edge
of the Grand Bank.*258*
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 258
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species hake, blue
Species Id M010598
Date 27 AUG 96
References
References - 1