Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gadiformes (Cods) >
Phycidae (Phycid hakes)
Etymology: Urophycis: Greek, oura = tail + Greek, phyke, pykis, -idos = the female of a fish that lives among algae (Greek = phykon), related with the gudgeon (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Goode & Bean.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 27 - 684 m (Ref. 1371), usually 360 - 470 m (Ref. 1371). Deep-water; 31°N - 38°S, 97°W - 38°W (Ref. 56854)
Western Atlantic: Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, northern coasts of South America to the Orinoco, perhaps to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 66.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 2.5 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 14 years (Ref. 51038)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Upper limb of first gill arch with 2 or 3 rakers; the barbel very short, or absent in many specimens. A diffuse dusky blotch present on the opercle.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: circular.
Found on mud bottoms.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Cohen, D.M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto and N. Scialabba, 1990. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (Order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(10). Rome: FAO. 442 p. (Ref. 1371)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest; gamefish: yes
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