The morid cod, largeye lepidion, or North Atlantic codling (Lepidion eques) is a species of fish in the family Moridae.[1][3][4] The Catalog of Fishes considers it a synonym of Lepidion lepidion.[5]
North Atlantic codling | |
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Illustration from Report on the deep-sea fishes collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876 | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gadiformes |
Family: | Moridae |
Genus: | Lepidion |
Species: | L. eques
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Binomial name | |
Lepidion eques (Günther, 1887)
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Synonyms[2] | |
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The specific name eques means "knight", referring to the plume-like protuberance on its head; this is also reflected in the Icelandic name bláriddari and Danish name blå ridder, both meaning "blue knight."[6]
The North Atlantic codling is pink-brown in colour with a blue tinge; albinos are common.[7] It is up to 44 cm (1.44 ft) in length.[8] Its posterior nostril is immediately anterior to the eye. There are 55–60 dorsal finrays and 50–54 anal finrays. It has a lateral line with pit organs but no pores, and 8–13 pyloric caeca.[9]
The North Atlantic codling lives in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is benthopelagic, living at depths of 120–1,900 m (390–6,230 ft).[1][3][10][11][12]
The North Atlantic codling feeds on crustaceans and polychaetes.[2] It usually swims close to sandy bottoms and exhibits station holding behavior.[13][14]