Gadidae

From New World Encyclopedia
Revision as of 01:07, 26 December 2008 by Rick Swarts (talk | contribs)
Gadidae
Fossil range: Oligocene–Recent
[1]
Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Gadidae
Genera

See text

Gadidae is a family of almost exclusively marine fish in the order Gadiformes, characterized by the first dorsal fin being posterior to the head, the lack of true spines in the fins, and most with long dorsal and anal fins. Known as the "cod family," Gadidae includes cods, haddocks, whiting, pollock, and cuskfishes. Members of Gadidae are found in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, with one freshwater species.


Overview and description

the order Gadiformes and the class Actinopterygii. Members of the Gadiformes are characterized by lacking true spines in the fins, generally long dorsal and anal fins, usually cycloid (rarely ctenoid) scales, a swim bladder without pneumatic duct, and pelvic fins (when present) below or in front of the pectorals. Members of the almost exclusively marine family Gadidae (one Holarctic freshwater species) are typified by having the first dorsal fin posterior to the head, the head of the vomer toothed, and the swim bladder not connected with auditory capsules. Members of the Gadinae subfamily are characterized by having three dorsal and two anal fins, an egg without an oil globule, usually a chin barbel, and a slightly forked or truncate caudal fin (Nelson 2006).



Most species of gadid are found in temperate waters of the northern hemisphere, although there are some exceptions. They are generally medium sized fish, and are distinguished by the presence of three dorsal fins on the back and two anal fins on the underside. Most species have barbels on their chin, which they use while browsing on the sea floor. Gadids are carnivorous, feeding on smaller fish and crustaceans.[1]

Gadids are highly prolific, producing several million eggs at each spawning. This contributes to their high population numbers, which, in turn, makes commercial fishing relatively easy.[2]

Genera and species

The family gadidae includes 24 species, grouped into 13 genera. Some other forms once included here have since been removed to other families. On the other hand, the tadpole cod family Ranicipitidae has now been absorbed into Gadidae, having formerly contained just one species, the tadpole fish (Raniceps raninus).

Family Gadidae

  • Genus Arctogadus Dryagin, 1932.
    • East Siberian cod (Arctogadus borisovi) Dryagin, 1932
    • Arctic cod (Arctogadus glacialis) (Peters, 1872)
  • Genus Boreogadus Günther, 1862.
    • Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) (Lepechin, 1774)
  • Genus Eleginus Fischer, 1813.
    • Saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis) (Tilesius, 1810)
    • Navaga (Eleginus nawaga) (Koelreuter, 1770)
  • Genus Gadiculus Guichenot, 1850.
    • Silvery cod (Gadiculus argenteus argentus) Guichenot, 1850
    • Gadiculus argenteus thori Schmidt, 1914
  • Genus Gadus Linné, 1758.
    • Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) Tilesius, 1810
    • Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) Linnaeus, 1758
    • Greenland cod (Gadus ogac) Richardson, 1836
  • Genus Melanogrammus Gill, 1862.
  • Genus Merlangius Garsault, 1764.
    • Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Genus Microgadus Gill, 1865.
    • Pacific tomcod (Microgadus proximus) (Girard, 1854)
    • Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) (Walbaum, 1792)
  • Genus Micromesistius Gill, 1863.
    • Southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) Norman, 1937
    • Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) (Risso, 1827)
  • Genus Pollachius Nilsson, 1832.
    • Atlantic pollock (Pollachius pollachius) (Linnaeus, 1758)
    • Saithe (Pollachius virens) (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Genus Raniceps Oken, 1817.
    • Tadpole fish (Raniceps raninus) (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Genus Theragra Lucas in Jordan & Evermann, 1898.
    • Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) (Pallas, 1814)
    • Norwegian pollock (Theragra finnmarchica) Koefoed, 1956
  • Genus Trisopterus Rafinesque, 1814.
    • Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) (Nilsson, 1855)
    • Pouting (Trisopterus luscus) (Linnaeus, 1758)
    • Poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) (Linnaeus, 1758)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Gadidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. December 2008 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2008.
  2. Cohen, Daniel M. (1998). in Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.: Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press, 130-131. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
Commons-logo.svg
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikispecies-logo.svg
Wikispecies has information related to:
Gadidae

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.