Tuesday 30 October 2012

Ling

Ling

A member of the cod family, but the ling has a far longer, slim line shape to the body. The characteristic single feeler barbel is there on the chin like the cod. Ling have two dorsal fins, the first rounded and short based, but the secondary main dorsal is long and flat topped. The anal fin is similar in shape to the secondary dorsal but is less long ending short of the vent. The tail fin is also rounded. Ling have a medium sized eye and slim profiled head. The top and bottom jaws are equal, but the mouth is armed with needle shaped teeth designed to grab and hold passing prey. The only confusion in identifying ling is when they are small up to a 1lb or so when it's easily mistaken for members of the rockling family, especially the three bearded rockling. Rocklings have barbels on the upper jaw which ling do not, and also note that the rockling's first dorsal is flattened in shaped and not rounded. Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) is a member of the cod family. It is usually 70 to 110 cm long . Blue ling feeds on fish (flatfishes, gobies, rocklings) and on crustaceans and benthic invertebrates. The fish reaches sexual maturity at the age of 6 to 12 years.

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling

Ling



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