Common Name
Blue Ling
Year Described
Pennant, 1784
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 14-15; 69-83
Anal Fin: 70-81
Pectoral Fin:
Pelvic Fin:
Gill Rakers:
Vertebrae:
Body elongated and relatively slender (compared to other lotids). Head small. Mouth large and extends to under middle of eye. Eye moderate. Lips thick. Upper jaw overhangs lower. Teeth on premaxilla, vomer and dentary. There is a single barbel on chin (shorter than eye diameter). No flap or filaments on nostrils. Two dorsal fins: one small and rounded and the second long and low. D1 taller than D2. Anal fin shorter than dorsal fin. Caudal fin well separated from dorsal and anal fins. Tail edge rounded. Pectoral fin rounded. Pelvic fin long (anterior pair longest and reaching beyond level of pectoral tip). Scales cycloid and tiny. Lateral line arched anteriorly and becoming interrupted on caudal peduncle.
Color
Body reddish brown dorsally and whitish ventrally, sometimes with an abrupt boundary between the colors. Variably marked from plain to showing numerous large blotches along the lateral line. Medians fins body colored with a dark subterminal margin and a white edge.
Size
Maximum size to 15.5cm SL.
Habitat
Known from 150-1000m on soft bottoms.
Range
Off S. Greenland to Newfoundland. More widespread in northeastern Atlantic.
References
Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & N. Scialabba. 1990. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (Order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(10). Rome: FAO. 442 p.