MARKET NAME: POLLOCK.
COMMON NAME (ENGLISH): Pollock. See literature
references.
NON-ENGLISH AND VERNACULAR NAMES: Bacalao, Badejo, Boston bluefish,
Carbonero, Coal-fish, Coalfish, Coley, Colin, Colin noir, Czarniak, Grasej, Green cod, Greslin,
Köhler, Koolvis, Lieu noir, Merlan vert, Merluche, Merluzzo nero, Pollack, Pollock, Saida, Saith, Saithe, Seelachs, Sei, Sej.
See literature references.
ORIGINAL REFERENCE: Gadus virens Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae, 10th edition: 254.
SYNONYMS:Gadus carbonarius, Linnaeus, 1758; Gadus colinus,
Lacépède, 1800; Gadus sey Lacépède, 1800; Gadus purpureus Mitchill, 1815;
Merlangius virens Fleming, 1828; Merlangus carbonarius,
Fleming, 1828; Merlangus purpureus, Storer, 1839; Storer, 1846; Merlangus
leptocephalus, Storer, 1839; Pollachius carbonarius, Gill, 1863; Gill, 1864.
NAMED SUBSPECIES: N/A.
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: Coloration: Greenish brown above; paler on sides
and ventral surface (olive or yellowish on sides, silvery below); sometimes a black spot in the axil, no
other conspicuous marks; pelvic fins pale; lateral line pale or gray.
See literature references.
Morphology:
Size - Reaches nearly 130 cm total length; common form 30 to 110 cm.
Attains weights up to 32 kg (70 lbs.); often to 7 kg (15 lbs.).
See literature references.
Shape - Body rather elongate, compressed, coniform behind.
See literature references.
Head - Head fitting four times in body length. Snout sharp and conical; mouth rather small,
oblique; lower jaw projecting (larger than upper jaw); small barbel present at tip of lower jaw (often
absent in large fish). Gill openings very wide, extending upward above the level of the pectoral fins.
Gills 4 in number, a slit behind the fourth; membranes more or less united, free from isthmus; no
pseudobranchiae. Lateral-line pores present on head.
See literature references and illustration.
Dentition - Teeth villiform; in band on upper jaw, with the outer row equal or somewhat
larger; villiform teeth on vomer, none on palatines.
See literature references.
Osteology - Maxillary reaching beyond front of orbit; suborbital bones moderate; subopercle
and postclavicle thin and flat, not enlarged and ivory-like; no V-shaped ridge on top of skull.
Vertebrae 54 in number; single hypural bone attached to last vertebra; spine on top of first vertebra
tightly connected to a narrow crest at rear of skull.
See literature references.
Dorsal fin - Dorsal fin base long, extending almost the length of the back, divided into 3
separate parts (separate fins) that are relatively close together (space between second part and third
part less than length of base of first part). First part low and rounded, originating at rear of or behind head; last part
originating far posterior to the level of the vent. Dorsal fin rays 13-22-20.
See literature references and illustration.
Anal fin - Anal fin base long, divided into 2 separate parts (separate fins). Base length of first
part equaling one-half or more of preanal distance. Anal fin rays 25-30.
See literature references and illustration.
Pectoral fins - Pectorals short, scarcely reaching anal opening lacking spines.
See literature references and illustration.
Pelvic fins - Ventral fins short, thoracic, originating slightly ahead of pectoral fins (at a distance about equal
to the diameter of the eye), lacking spines, and without an elongated ray.
See literature references and illustration.
Caudal fin - Caudal fin symmetrical, lunate or shallowly forked.
See literature references and See illustration.
Lateral line - Lateral line pale, prominent, continuous to about middle of third dorsal fin, smooth
along its entire length. Lateral-line pores present on head.
See literature references and illustration.
Scalation - Scales small, rounded, cycloid, and overlapping; not set at right angles to each other. About 150 scales along lateral line.
See literature references.
Swim bladder - Air bladder not attached to auditory capsules at rear of skull.
See literature references.
Anal opening - Vent submedian, under first dorsal fin.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: [In preparation.]
FISHERIES AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE: [In preparation.]
FISHING METHODS: [In preparation.]
MARKETED PRODUCT FORMS: [In preparation.]
NOTES: [In preparation.]
LITERATURE: [In preparation.]
Top Page for Pollock; (Pollachius virens)
Last updated on 2001-MAY-27 by wss/frf