A-z - Animals

cod

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Cod is a term that refers to a number of ray-finned fishes, all of which belong to the class Actinopterygii.

However, it originally referred to cod or merlin (Merlangius merlangus), also called British cod, found in Atlantic and European waters. In the United States, it refers to Florida cod and Pacific cod. Saltwater fish is very versatile and can be used in many different cooking methods and recipes.

5 Cod Facts

  • Buy cod (merling) fresh, frozen or salted.
  • This fish is often fished off the coast of Europe.
  • It is related to cod, pollock and haddock.
  • Historically, the fish has been a cheap source of food for the poor, pet food, and even a filling for flour.
  • To distinguish this fish from related species, look for black spots near the pectoral fins on both sides.

Cod classification and scientific name

The scientific name for cod is Merlangius merlangus. Another name for cod is merling or in America, English whiting. This fish belongs to the class of ray-finned fishes, ray-finned fishes. It belongs to Gadiformes, which means cod-like, and belongs to the cod family of true cod, cod, or cod. Linnaeus named the cod the genus Merlangius, from the French word merlan, meaning fish. Although there are 11 genera and 21 species in the cod family, there is only one species of cod.

The common name "cod" is also used for Gadiformes and other fishes of the Gadidae family. It refers to Pacific cod, Florida cod and other hake (genus Merluccius) in the United States, Alaskan cod (Theragra chalcogramma) in Canada, and southern blue cod (Micromesistius australis) in the Southern Ocean.

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"Cod" can also refer to some fishes of the class Actinophae. It includes the catfish family, which includes cod, Carolina cod, sea mullet, southern kingfish, and southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), which live on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States; are gulf kingfish and totoaba; northern kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis) and scallops of the family Siligaidae of the Australian, Indian and Indo-Pacific regions, as well as several species of the genus Sylago and king George cod (Sillaginodes punctatus ).

cod appearance

This fish is long and torpedo shaped. It has a black spot near the pectoral fin on each side of the body. 2 anal fins, 30-35 soft rays; 3 dorsal fins, 30-40 soft rays, the first fin is the highest. The head is small, as are the chin barbels (if any). Juveniles have small chin barbels, which disappear as it matures. Its color is dark blue, green or yellow-brown, with white or yellow-gray sides and silvery belly. There are iridescent scales to give it a sheen. In terms of size, it measures 11-27.5 inches in length, with a maximum weight of 36 inches and 6.8 lbs. Females are longer than males.



Cod Distribution, Populations and Habitat

Cod habitat range includes the eastern North Atlantic, the North Sea off the east coast of the United Kingdom, the northern Mediterranean, the southeastern Barents Sea, Iceland to Scandinavia, the western Baltic, the Aegean, the Adriatic, Portugal and the Black Sea . Its water type is temperate salt water, and it inhabits seawater and brackish waters containing mud, gravel, sand, and stones, with a water depth of 10-200 meters. According to the IUCN Red List, its conservation status is listed as Least Concern. However, its conservation status is Vulnerable in populations living in the Baltic Sea according to the HELCOM Red List.

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Where to Find White Cod and How to Catch It

You can usually find cod (merling) at depths of 30-100 metres. You're most likely to catch them on beaches off the coast of the UK. Rigs such as the 3-hook baffle, 1 over/1 down shear rig, and 2-hook flow track work well. While they can catch any kind of bait, shellfish, prawns, mussels, clams and clams are best suited. This fish battles other species known as whiting.

You're most likely to catch Florida cod or hake (Menticirrhus littoralis) in estuaries, bays and harbors or surf breaks at depths of about 10 meters. The best baits are sand fleas, along with medium action rods, spinning reels, braided lines, and round hooks. You can also use the double dropper ring unit for sand fleas or small crabs, oysters, split clams, fresh peeled or live shrimp.

You can find Pacific cod or hake (Merluccius productus) off the west coast of Canada and the United States at depths ranging from 0-1,000 meters but usually at 229 metres. They migrate seasonally from shallow to deep water and back again. They will use dead or live bait, but squid is the best. Catch them at night using size 4 to 2 hooks, medium tackle and high/low hooks.

cod predator and prey

Predominantly carnivorous, cod are major fish predators and even cannibals, making their diet almost exclusively piscivorous. Cod and other species of the cod family have many parasites, including cod (Lernaeocera branchialis). Cod (merling) is threatened by commercial passive and active fishing.

What do cod eat?

Juvenile cod eat sea worms, brown shrimp and gobies. Adult cod eat crustaceans, molluscs, sand eels, cod, haddock, cod, Norwegian cod, sprats, and herring.

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What to eat cod?

All kinds of sharks, rays, bony fish, jellyfish, whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions eat cod. Humans also eat cod.

Cod Reproduction and Lifespan

Cod reproduce by laying eggs and the females lay eggs. They are mass spawners. Young cod are called juveniles when they hatch, and they are larvae 9-18 days after hatching. When they absorb the yolk sac, they are called fry, and when they become elongated, they are called fingerlings. When they are young and immature, they are called teenagers. They migrate to the open sea after their first year. By the second year, they grow to 12 inches long and reach sexual maturity. They have a service life of up to 20 years.

Cod in Fishing and Cooking

The fish is bought fresh, sun-dried, salted, smoked and frozen. Cod recipes are cooked by steaming, grilling and baking. It is very popular in many parts of the world. Its flavor is similar to that of cod, mild, sweet and delicate, and the meat is lean, firm and light, making it versatile. This fish is a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Some popular cod recipes are:

  • Southern Fried Cod
  • Cod with Melted Herb Crusting
  • Cod puff pastry wrapped with new potatoes, carrots and peas
  • Cod Pie with Garlic Refried Beans and Sweet Corn

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Yes, it's healthy and nutritious.

Tastes like cod.

They're about the same price, with cod usually being around a dollar less. As far as taste goes, it depends. Tilapia is fatty and has a softer texture, making it tasty, but some find it bland. Cod has more cholesterol, sodium and calcium.

It used to be very cheap, but no longer exists due to overfishing.

"Whitefish" refers to several finned, bottom-dwelling (ground-dwelling) fishes, especially whiting (Merluccius bilinearis), hake (Urophycis), pollock (Pollachius), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and blackline Cod (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). Whitefish is also the common name for several species of freshwater fish (Vendidae) in the Atlantic Ocean.