Cod fish. Predatory freshwater fish What do cod eat?

Almost all representatives of the cod genus, with the exception of burbot, prefer to live in salt water. Moreover, reservoirs should be located closer to the northern hemisphere, since their element is cold water.

The cod family includes about 100 species various fish, and almost all of them are inhabitants of salty sea water, and only one burbot inhabits freshwater rivers and other bodies of water. The most common of them are: haddock, navaga, blue whiting, cod, hake and many others. What are the differences between the cod family and other representatives of the seas and oceans will be discussed in this article.

Appearance

The cod family has a number of distinctive external features. For example, representatives of this family have several dorsal fins, as well as the presence of one or two anal fins. The most developed of them is the caudal fin.

As a rule, the caudal fin can be integral with the dorsal and anal fins or can be separated from them. What is interesting is that all of them do not have sharp, prickly rays on their fins. Fish of this family have enlarged gill openings, as well as the presence of a barbel in the area of ​​the lower jaw. The body of the fish is covered with small scales, which are easy to clean. Basically, codfish prefer to move in small schools, with the exception of burbot, a freshwater representative of this family.

Of the 100 species, absolutely diverse representatives can be distinguished, differing completely different sizes. Species that feed on plankton are much smaller in size compared to those that feed on larger living organisms. The smallest of them is the deep-sea viper, which can reach no more than 15 cm in length. The largest representatives include predators such as moth and Atlantic cod, which can reach up to 1.8 meters in length.

Habitats

Representatives of this family are found in almost all waters of the northern hemisphere of the earth and only 5 species inhabit the seas of the southern hemisphere. All of them should be classified as sea ​​creatures living in salt water and only burbot prefers the fresh waters of northern Europe, Asia and America.

The highest numbers of cod are observed in the eastern parts of the Atlantic, including the Norwegian and Barents Seas. The Baltic Sea is inhabited exclusively by cod. Representatives of cod can also be found in the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

It is unlikely that representatives of this family will be found in the equatorial zone, but as many as three species of this family live off the coast of South America, South Africa and New Zealand.

What do cod eat?

Some types of fish prefer plant food, while others exclusively animal food, since they are predators. Some of them, such as blue whiting, arctic cod, and polar cod, eat zooplankton.

Pollock and cod feed on fairly large living organisms. In these fish, the fat that they store during feeding accumulates in the liver, which is their significant difference from other species of fish that do not belong to this family.

Each species of fish belonging to this family is different in that it has its own reproductive characteristics. Most of them lay their eggs in sea ​​water, although some of them that live in northern latitudes choose desalinated areas of reservoirs for spawning. Not the majority of them enter rivers to lay eggs.

Representatives of this family begin to lay eggs only after 3 years of life, and some of them even later - after 8-10 years of life. They lay eggs for several years in a row, laying several million eggs each, although there are others, such as navaga, which lay only a few thousand eggs.

Almost the majority of representatives of this family love cold water and lay eggs at a temperature of about 0 degrees and mainly in winter or at the end of winter.

After the fry appear, some of them remain in place, and some are carried away by the current, therefore, from the first days of their life, the fry of these fish begin to spread throughout the waters of the seas and oceans. Interestingly, haddock fry use jellyfish to hide from their natural enemies. Throughout their lives, representatives of this family carry out long migrations. This is due to some natural factors, such as sea and ocean currents, fluctuations in water temperature, including the presence of food supply.

Due to the fact that most cod species have unsurpassed nutritional qualities, they are caught on a huge industrial scale. Every year about 10 million tons of cod fish are caught and most of them are caught in the Atlantic Ocean. As a rule, the bulk consists of the following types of cod:

• Atlantic cod.
• Pacific pollock.

Almost all of them lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, so they are caught using deep-sea trawls. The meat of these fish is a popular product due to its nutritional value. Their liver is considered especially valuable, as it contains a huge amount of useful substances.

Types of cod with photos and descriptions

As mentioned above, cod fish include up to hundreds of species of different fish. Among them are the most famous and most valuable, which will be discussed below.

This small fish is also called the “big-eyed cod.” Cod lives at depths from 200 meters to almost a kilometer. It is easy to distinguish it from other types of fish by its rather large eyes, which actually occupy a third of the head. During its life, the fish can grow to a maximum of 15 centimeters, and most specimens are found with a length of 9-12 centimeters. The viper is found in the Mediterranean, as well as in the waters of Northern Norway. Sometimes found in oceans at very great depths. There are two types of this amazing fish:

• Northern.
• South.

They differ from each other, although only slightly. Mostly they have different quantities fin rays and vertebrae, which is associated with their habitat.

This representative of the cod family is found in the waters of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, as well as off the coast of Europe. This fish can be found in the Black Sea, off the coast of Crimea, where it is brought by the current after intense storms. Capable of growing up to 50 centimeters in length. The diet of whiting consists of small crustaceans and small fish. The whiting itself supplements the diet of larger predators, such as dolphins or dogfish. Commercial catch of this fish is carried out exclusively in northern waters.

Merlang doesn't like great depths. After two years of life, whiting can already lay eggs. At the same time, caviar is deposited at depths of no more than 1 meter, at a water temperature of at least 5 degrees.

Almost everyone knows this fish, since it can be found on almost all fish store shelves. Pollock lives mainly in the north of the Pacific Ocean, because it prefers to live in cold water with a temperature of 2 to 9 degrees.

This fish almost always stays in the water column, at depths of half a kilometer or more, and only during spawning does it move closer to the coast, to shallower areas.

Pollock begins to spawn after 3 or 4 years of life. The spawning period, depending on habitat conditions, can begin in winter and continue until summer. Pollock can grow up to 0.5 meters in length, and sometimes more.

Pollock is one of the most numerous representatives of this family, which are found within the cold Pacific waters. This fish is caught on an industrial scale in huge volumes, so it ranks first in terms of the number of fish caught today. Both the meat of this fish and its liver are nutritious and healthy.

Prefers to lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. An exceptionally predatory fish that hunts at a depth of 500 meters. This predator is capable of growing up to 2 meters in length, although there are mainly individuals up to 1 meter in length.

They can lay eggs only at 8-10 years of life. Its diet consists of small fish and other living organisms.

This fish is of serious commercial interest. Lives in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean, as well as the Chukchi, Okhotsk and Japanese Seas.

Far Eastern navaga can grow up to 35 centimeters in length, although larger specimens are found, up to 50 cm in length, but very rarely. This fish prefers to stay in the coastal zone, leaving it only to find food.

At 2 or 3 years of life it can spawn. Navaga spawns only in winter, at the lowest temperatures.

Populations of navaga are quite large, so they are caught in large quantities. It is mined 10 times more than the White Sea navaga.

The main habitats of this fish are:

• White Sea.
• Pechora Sea.
• Kara Sea.

It also prefers to be in the coastal zone, and during the spawning period it can go to rivers. Despite this, the process of spawning is carried out only in salt water, in winter time, at depths of about 10 meters. The female lays eggs, which firmly adhere to the base of the bottom, after which they develop here for 4 months.

Reaches a length of about 35 centimeters, although there are representatives up to 45 centimeters in length. The diet of northern navaga consists of fairly small crustaceans, worms and small fish.

It is caught commercially in the autumn-winter period, as its meat has an unsurpassed taste.

This is the only representative of the cod family that is found in fresh water. Like most codfish, burbot prefers cool water, so it is most often found in rivers and lakes of America, Asia and Europe.

The most numerous population of burbot is considered to be in Siberian rivers, where it is caught both on an industrial scale and by amateur fishermen. Burbot spawns exclusively in winter, when the reservoir is covered with ice. In summer, it prefers to hide in stones, holes or snags. With the onset of autumn he begins active image life. Burbot is a nocturnal fish that does not tolerate sunlight. According to many anglers, at night it can be lured by the light emanating from a fire.

Burbot grows up to 0.6 meters in length and weighs up to 1.5 kg. Despite this, there are specimens up to 1.2 meters in length and weighing up to 20 kilograms. The diet of burbot consists of larvae, crustaceans and small fish.

Haddock is found in the North Atlantic and mainly in the coastal waters of Europe and America. Prefers to lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. The body is characterized as laterally compressed. The body color is silver, with a black lateral line and a black spot located above the pectoral fin. The average length of the fish is in the range of 50-70 cm, although there are individuals longer than 1 meter. Haddock feeds on mollusks, worms, crustaceans, and also eats herring eggs.

At the 3rd or 5th year of life, females are already ready to lay eggs. The haddock fishery is quite well developed and in terms of the mass of fish caught, it ranks firmly third after pollock and cod. It is caught mainly in the North and Barents Seas. The catch volumes are estimated at approximately one million tons per year.

It can grow up to 35 cm in length, although sometimes individuals up to 50 cm in length are found. This fish grows too slowly.

It is found mainly in the northeastern Atlantic, located at depths from 30 to 800 meters. The diet consists of fish fry, plankton and small crustaceans.

It is also caught on a commercial scale and is also sold in many retail outlets.

Southern blue whiting

This representative of the cod family is somewhat larger in size compared to the northern whiting. It can weigh up to 1 kg, growing up to 0.5 meters in length. Closer to the southern hemisphere, it prefers to be closer to the surface of the water, but the further from these places it is, the deeper it is found, at depths of up to half a kilometer.

It is mined on an industrial scale, making mainly canned food, although many housewives boil, bake and fry it.

It can also be easily purchased at a fish store.

Leads a gregarious lifestyle, being either in the water column or closer to the bottom. It grows up to 70 cm in length, although there are individuals up to 1 meter long, and sometimes more. Lives mainly in the northern waters of the Atlantic. It migrates across the Atlantic over considerable distances: with the arrival of spring it heads north, and with the advent of autumn it returns again to the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Pollock is also caught in large quantities. It makes quite tasty canned food called “sea salmon.” This is due to the fact that pollock meat and salmon meat are characterized by a similar taste, but pollock meat costs much less.

This type of fish is already listed in the International Red Book and the Red Book of Russia. Atlantic cod grows up to 1.8 meters in length, although the average size is between 40-70 centimeters. Atlantic cod feeds on various crustaceans, mollusks, including fish.

Female cod begin laying eggs at the age of 8-10 years, weighing 3-4 kilograms. She lives in the Atlantic Ocean. Highly valued for its nutritious and healthy meat, including liver, rich in healthy fats. Cod makes delicious canned food. Many people are familiar with such a delicacy as cod liver, which is used to make delicious sandwiches and other cold snacks.

In 1992, the Canadian government imposed a ban on the fishing of Atlantic cod, as its numbers had sharply declined, which threatened the complete disappearance of this type of fish.

This representative of the cod family differs from the Atlantic cod in its larger head and smaller body dimensions. It can reach a length of 1.2 meters, although mostly individuals are found measuring 50-80 cm.

This type of cod lives in the Seas of Okhotsk, Bering and Japan. It does not carry out long migrations, adhering to the waters of these seas and the coastline.

Begins to spawn in the 5th year of life. The total life expectancy is about 10-12 years. Each female is capable of laying several million eggs. It feeds on invertebrates and fish. It is also caught in huge quantities. Its meat is delicious in any form: it is salted, smoked, fried, boiled, baked and made into delicious canned food.

Useful properties of cod

Meat of these species is considered dietary, since its fat content reaches only 4 percent. In this regard, cod dishes have an excellent taste and are quite healthy for humans.

Availability of vitamins

The following vitamins were found in the meat of these fish species:

• Group B

Availability of trace elements

The meat of these fish contains useful minerals, such as:

• Potassium.
• Phosphorus.
• Calcium.
• Magnesium.
• Fluorine.
• Sodium.
• Manganese.
• Copper.
• Iron.
• Molybdenum, etc.

When choosing one or another method of preparing fish, you should always remember that the task is to preserve the maximum of nutrients without losing taste. This is only possible if the fish is consumed raw, boiled or baked. Naturally, the maximum of useful substances is retained if it is consumed raw. To do this, it is simply salted or cooked in a marinade. To prepare it correctly, it is better to use ready-made recipes, of which there are sufficient quantities. Still, it is better to resort to heat treatment. If you cook fish in the oven, it can turn out very tasty and healthy dish. As a last resort, it can be fried and served along with a side dish and vegetables, although this will not be so healthy, and it may be a bit heavy on the stomach.

Representatives of cod are considered the most numerous species of fish inhabiting the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Due to the fact that the meat of these fish is not only tasty, but also healthy, they are caught at a huge rate, which is reflected in the figures associated with millions of tons annually. If this continues, our children may not see most seafood on their tables.

The liver of these fish is no less valuable, since many useful substances accumulate in it. Since the meat is not fatty, it can be consumed by almost all categories of people, and especially by those who have managed to gain excess weight. Only personal intolerance to seafood can become a real obstacle to eating cod fish.

The cod fish family consists of almost 100 species, living primarily in the waters of the Northern Hemisphere. All of them, with the exception of burbot, are representatives of the marine ichthyofauna. In addition to the usual cod, saffron cod, haddock and pollock, the order of codfish includes such exotic fish for the Russian consumer as menek, gadikul, and molva.

Some species are subject to commercial catch, others are of interest only to amateur fishermen.

General features and distinctive features

The main signs of belonging to the cod family - a fleshy mustache on the lower jaw and spots of various sizes and shapes scattered throughout the body - are not shared by all representatives of the order. Some fish have silvery scales and absent or poorly developed antennae.

But almost all fish of the family have other “family traits” (pictured).

A sign of the cod order is large eyes on a disproportionately large head and a light longitudinal stripe along the body

Characteristic features of the family include the absence of spiny rays in the fins and large gill openings. The body of cod is covered with small cycloid scales.

The table provides a list and brief description of the commercial and most nutritionally valuable cod fish.

In addition to commercial species, the list of fish of the cod family includes popular recreational fishing objects:

• cod or arctic cod, a small fish (average length 25 cm) that lives in the Arctic Ocean. They catch it in the White and Barents Seas;
• Gadikul (another name is big-eyed cod), the smallest representative of cod reaches a length of 12 cm. A distinctive feature is the huge eyes, occupying a third of the head. The antennae is missing. The sides are silvery with dark small spots. Gadikula are often used as bait for catching other cod fish;
• tomcode ; The genus includes 2 species that differ in size and habitat: the Atlantic tomcod (average length 35 cm) and the Pacific tomcod or American cod (length 30 cm). In Russia they are caught in the Barents Sea, off the coast of Murmansk. In the USA and Canada it is an object of sport fishing;
• luska (kapelan, French cod), a beautiful copper-brown fish with yellowish sides, decorated with 4-5 transverse dark stripes. The average length is 30 cm. They are caught with a fishing rod in the Mediterranean, White, Barents, Kara, and Chukchi seas.

The usually gray, dull color of the back of the viper may vary depending on its habitat

Common burbot

It is no coincidence that burbot (the outdated name is men) stands in a separate row. This is the only representative of cod species that lives in fresh water.

The fish feels comfortable in cold rivers and lakes. The largest population is found in the northern reservoirs of Russia. The freshwater predator can be found in smaller numbers in rivers flowing into the Black and Caspian Seas. Northern burbot is larger than its southern counterpart. His average weight fluctuates between 3–6 kg with a length of up to 80 cm (in warm waters it rarely exceeds 600 g).

Note! Burbot always looks for the coolest place in the river; it often settles in the area of ​​springs. In the absence of underwater springs, the fish chooses snags, deep holes or large rocky placers as a habitat.

The color of the fish largely depends on the type of bottom (pebbles, sand, clay) and the degree of transparency of the water. The traditional color is brownish or dark brown, which becomes lighter as the fish grows and ages. The belly of the burbot is olive, the fins are dark gray, almost black. Like most cod fish, burbot is decorated with dark, chaotically scattered spots.

When in ambush, burbot puts forward a moving whisker, which attracts small fish

A flat head with small eyes, three whiskers (on the chin and along the edges of the upper jaw), and mucus covering the body make the burbot look like a catfish. It is not difficult to distinguish fish. The body of the burbot is covered with cycloid scales (the catfish does not have scales). Burbot is a nocturnal predator. The structure of its sense organs is designed for hunting in complete darkness.

Note! The fish has exceptional hearing and is very curious. Having caught an unusual sound, the burbot rushes to the source of the noise, sometimes covering a considerable distance. Fishermen often take advantage of this behavioral feature.

Diet

Fish belonging to the order Codfish, with a few exceptions, are predators.

At a young age, they feed on bottom invertebrates: crustaceans, shrimp, worms. As you get older, your diet changes. Now its basis is small fish, including representatives of their own family. For example, cod actively eats young pollock. Blue whiting often becomes prey for haddock.

Small representatives of the order (gadikul, cod) feed on plankton and benthonic crustaceans, but sometimes they diversify their menu with fry or eggs of their fellow creatures.

Strong, fast pollock hunts in a flock. The noise made by the school can sometimes be heard on the surface of the reservoir

Cannibalism is very common among cod fish: their own young often become their prey.

Interesting fact! Accumulated fat is deposited in cod fish in the liver, which due to this acquires mass useful properties. Saturated with vitamins, macro- and microelements, essential amino acids, liver is useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity in the vast majority of the family occurs after 3 years of life. Large individuals (cod, moth) begin to spawn upon reaching 6–8 years of age. Spawning occurs in late winter or early spring. Codfish are very prolific. Large individuals can lay up to 9 million eggs. Navaga lays up to 90 thousand eggs, small representatives of the family - no more than 6 thousand. The eggs and hatched larvae lead a predominantly pelagic lifestyle. The current carries them over considerable distances from the spawning site.

The fry spend the first year of life in shallow water near the shore. They often hide under the bell of jellyfish. As they mature, the juveniles move deeper and begin to make seasonal migrations.

Cod and haddock fry use the Cyanea jellyfish as shelter

Interesting fact! From the eggs laid by blue whiting, only males are born. As they grow older, some fry show signs of females. By the age of sexual maturity, the ratio of males and females of blue whiting becomes equal. Towards the end of life (a fish lives on average 20 years), all individuals gradually turn into females.

Cod fish are a priority object of domestic and world fishing. They are valued for their tasty low-calorie meat and low bone count. Affordable price plays an important role.

Codfish are a coveted trophy for fans sea ​​fishing. Trolling and vertical fishing are the most popular methods. Representatives of the family are successfully caught from the shore using a spinning rod or bottom gear. Either way, cod fishing is a lot of fun.

Predatory freshwater fish

The first letter is "n"

Second letter "a"

Third letter "l"

The last letter of the letter is "m"

Answer for the clue "Predatory freshwater fish", 5 letters:
burbot

Alternative crossword questions for the word burbot

Fish that spawns in winter

Chekhov's fish

went into the estuary

River food fish

River predator sleeping in summer

River cod brother

Definition of the word burbot in dictionaries

Dictionary Russian language. S.I.Ozhegov, N.Yu.Shvedova. The meaning of the word in the dictionary Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language. S.I.Ozhegov, N.Yu.Shvedova.
-a,m. Predatory freshwater fish of the family. cod. adj. burbot -ya, -ye. LINE see line.

Wikipedia Meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
Burbot is a river in Russia, flows in the Sverdlovsk region, Perm region. The mouth of the river is located 899 km along the right bank of the Tura River. The length of the river is 11 km.

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998 The meaning of the word in the dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998
fish of the cod family. Length up to 1.7 m, weighs up to 32 kg. In the fresh waters of Eurasia and Northern. America, north of 45° north latitude. In summer it hibernates. Fishing object.

Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language, Dal Vladimir The meaning of the word in the dictionary Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language, Dal Vladimir
And. fish men, mnyuh, menukh, menyok, cripple, Gadus lota, big-headed, from 4-12 vershok in stagnant waters and mud, wriggles in the hands like an eel. Sea burbot, fish Ophidium barbatum. Liquid, black slag, fumes flowing out of a blast furnace, plunder. Eat burbot, psk. fell,...

Examples of the use of the word burbot in literature.

Dimensions burbot usually range from 37 to 47 centimeters. Its average weight in Bolshaya Imandra is 468 grams, in Ekostrovskaya and Babinskaya Imandra - 376 grams.

Soon the water field will overflow, they will catch fish with bastings - minnows, burbot, - they will bring a whole bucket.

Burbot- His eyes are small, his lips are thick, his belly is large, it’s hard to walk, he’s not happy with his literacy.

Protected, protected, You let me go to the shores, I burbot I’ll catch it and feed it to Mila.

In winter our fishermen caught burbot rides - muzzles lowered under the ice among the fence, in the spring - on fish and livestock.