The Atlantic Cod Basics
Name and Description
The Atlantic cod’s scientific name, Gadus
morhua, is a combination of Greek and Latin.
The genus name Gadus comes from the Greek word for fish, and the
species name morhua comes from the Latin word for cod.
Cod are a fairly identifiable fish, distinguished by a
prominent chin barbell and its spineless dorsal and anal fins.
It has three dorsal fins and two anal fins, which are
quite congruent to the second and third dorsal fins.
Its color varies with diet, but most cod have a greenish
or brownish tinted color on their backs and sides with dark
speckles, while their bellies are pale white.
The lateral line of the cod is white and runs along the side of
the body and then curves up as it reaches the cod’s head.
An average cod will reach a length between 30 and
Did you know: Despite not
being an overly large fish, the Atlantic cod world record stands
at an amazing
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