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Ophiodon elongatus Girard, 1854
Lingcod
Family: Hexagrammidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Neil McDaniel     (Photo ID #15993)

Map

Source: Distribution of Ophiodon elongatus as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 24 - 27; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 24; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 21 - 24; Vertebrae: 55 - 59. Anal spines of adults buried in flesh, third spine closely applied to first ray (Ref. 6885). Head without scales; fleshy cirrus above each eye; large mouth; maxilla reaching almost to vertical from posterior margin of eye. Jaws with small pointed teeth interspersed with large fanglike teeth (Ref. 48751).

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Biology

Species Biology

Ranges from the intertidal to 475 m depth (Ref. 6793). Adults are found near rocks, inshore and to 427 m (Ref. 2850). Young occur on sand or mud bottom of bays and inshore areas (Ref. 2850). Both migratory and non-migratory populations exist (Ref. 6885). Adults feed mostly on other fishes but also take crustaceans, octopi and squid (Ref. 4925). Young feed on copepods and other small crustaceans (Ref. 6885). Environment: demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range ? - 475 m (Ref. 6793). Climate: subtropical; 60°N - 31°N

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Distribution

Distribution

Northeast Pacific: Shumagin Islands in the western Gulf of Alaska to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Possibly occurring in the Bering Sea (Ref. 6793).

Source: FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNot Listed



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
 University of Alaska Museum

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