|
Micromesistius australis Norman, 1937 Southern blue whiting |
|
|
|
photo by
SeaFIC |
| Family: | Gadidae (Cods and haddocks) | |||
| Max. size: | 90 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 850.0 g; max. reported age: 30 years | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 900 m, oceanodromous | |||
| Distribution: | There are 2 disjunct populations. Micromesistius australis australis occurs around the Falkland Islands and Argentine Patagonia in the southwest Atlantic; off Chile in the southeast Pacific; also off South Georgia, South Shetland and South Orkney islands. Micromesistius australis pallidus occurs around the South Island of New Zealand. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 43-55; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 56-71; Vertebrae: 54-57 | |||
| Biology: | Invades shelf waters during summer and concentrating over the continental slope in winter. Forms schools (Ref. 9072). The young feed on euphausiids and amphipods and occasionally on copepods, cephalopods and small fish. Utilized in frozen blocks and as fishmeal. In Japan used as suerii (minced meat) for karaoke (fish cake) (Ref. 27363). Can be fried, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||