Gadiculus argenteus Guichenot 1850

Eyes large; mouth oblique; chin barbel absent. Color varies from pink to light brown dorsally, silvery on sides and ventrally (Ref. 1371). Scales large, silvery and easily detached. Lateral line ends in 7 open mucus grooves on the upper side of the head (Ref. 35388).

The major spawning grounds are located in the western part of the Mediterranean, on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar, in deep water.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0

Occurs in large schools over mud, muddy sand, gravel and rock bottoms. Feeds on small crustaceans and maybe worms. Preyed upon by other valuable fish (Ref. 1371). Spawns in the winter in the western Mediterranean and in the spring farther north (Ref. 35388).

fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually; price category: very high; price reliability: unreliable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this order