Common ling

Common ling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Lotidae
Genus: Molva
Species: M. molva
Binomial name
Molva molva
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Molva molva range map.

The common ling or simply the ling, Molva molva, is a large member of a family of cod-like fishes. An ocean fish whose habitat is in the Atlantic region and can be found around Iceland, Faroe Islands, British Isles, the Norse coast and occasionally around Newfoundland, the ling has a long slender body that can reach 2 metres in length; in adulthood, it is generally a deep-running fish, spending much of its life at depths of 100 m or more; younger fish are found at shallower depths.

The ling is edible; it can be considered interchangeable with cod in either its fresh, salted, or dried forms. The salted roe of the ling is considered a delicacy in Spain and is known as huevas de maruca. Ling can be made into lutefisk.

Distribution

Specific seas of occurrence include the Norwegian Sea, along the coastal shelves, and the Sea of the Hebrides, where the species is abundant.[1] A common ling measuring 6 ft in length was caught off Shetland on 24 February 2013.[2] This is the largest ling ever caught on rod and line in British waters.[3]

References

Line notes

  1. C.Michael Hogan (2011)
  2. "Giant fish weighing more than 67lbs reeled in off Shetland" (html). BBC. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  3. "UK Boat Caught Records". British Sea Fishing. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
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