Gadiculus argenteus Guichenot, 1850
Silvery pout
photo by García Rodríguez, M.

Family:  Gadidae (Cods and haddocks)
Max. size:  16.1 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 49.0 g; max. reported age: 3 years
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 100 - 1000 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Northeast Atlantic: found in the western Mediterranean and in the Atlantic around the Strait of Gibraltar and to the south along the Moroccan coast.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Eyes large; mouth oblique; chin barbel absent. Color varies from pink to light brown dorsally, silvery on sides and ventrally (Ref. 1371). Scales large, silvery and easily detached. Lateral line ends in 7 open mucus grooves on the upper side of the head (Ref. 35388).
Biology:  Occurs in large schools over mud, muddy sand, gravel and rock bottoms. Feeds on small crustaceans and maybe worms. Preyed upon by other valuable fish (Ref. 1371). Spawns in the winter in the western Mediterranean and in the spring farther north (Ref. 35388).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.