Family: PHYCIDAE, Cods, Phycid Hake, Phycid Hakes
1-2 As
FAMILY PHYCIDAE
PHYCID HAKES, CODS
Small to large fishes (to 2 m); body elongate, tail base narrow to moderately deep; no V shaped ridge on top of head; gill openings wide, extending above pectoral fins; mouth large, extends to under center of eye or further back, overhung by snout; chin barbel present in most species; well developed patch of teeth on front of roof of mouth; fins without spines; 2-3 dorsal fins; anal fin in 1-2 parts; pelvic fins under end of opercle, either with short and "normal" form or a pair of long threads; tail fin separate from dorsal and anal fins, well developed, straight to rounded; lateral line complete.
A family of hakes with 5 genera and ~27 species; primarily Atlantic but also the temperate W Pacific; 8 species in 2 genera in the Greater Caribbean, 6 species in 2 genera entering shallow water there.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER IWAMOTO (2002)
