Pacific Cod
ExploreFish
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Pacific Cod are similar to Atlantic Cod but live in the Pacific Ocean. They are also strong swimmers and have a tasty flavor.
Habitat: Cold Pacific Ocean
Appearance
The Pacific Cod has a mottled brown to grey-green body with a pale belly, helping it blend into the seafloor. It has three distinct dorsal fins and two anal fins, plus a prominent whisker-like barbel on its chin.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderGadiformesFamilyGadidaeGenusGadus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Instead of ears, Pacific Cod uses special internal ear-stones to sense sounds and vibrations.
Pacific Cod lays millions of tiny eggs, yet only a few will grow up to be adults!
Their powerful jaws can open incredibly wide, letting them swallow prey almost as big as themselves!
They are 'demersal' fish, meaning they spend most of their lives lurking near the ocean floor!
Special abilities
Ability
Camouflage Master
Pacific Cod has a mottled body pattern that helps them blend perfectly with rocky seafloors, hiding from predators and prey.
Ability
Touchy-Feely Chin
Pacific Cod has a sensitive chin barbel that helps them feel for food in dark or murky waters, like a built-in detector.
Ability
Cold Water Survivor
Pacific Cod can thrive in very cold ocean temperatures because of specialized proteins in their blood preventing freezing.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 50-120 cm
- Weight
- 2-22 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-18 years
- Swim Speed
- 15 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 900 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
A fierce hunter, Pacific Cod eats other fish and crustaceans found on the seafloor.
Age differences: Young cod eat smaller crustaceans; adults hunt larger fish and squid.
Primary Foods
- herring
- capelin
- crabs
- shrimp
- squid
- worms
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
eaten by
Orca
Orcinus orca
Orcas are powerful apex predators of the Pacific.
hunts
Pacific Herring
Clupea pallasii
Cod are major predators of schooling fish.
hunts
Tanner Crab
Chionoecetes bairdi
They actively prey on crabs and other crustaceans.
eaten by
Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus
Sea lions frequently dive deep to catch cod.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Migratory
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
Also known as
Grey CodPacific Whiting
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Pacific Cod?
50-120 cm
How much does Pacific Cod weigh?
2-22 kg
How long does Pacific Cod live?
10-18 years
What does Pacific Cod eat?
A fierce hunter, Pacific Cod eats other fish and crustaceans found on the seafloor.
How fast can Pacific Cod swim?
15 km/h
Where is Pacific Cod usually found?
Cold Pacific Ocean
How does Pacific Cod hunt?
Ambush
How deep can Pacific Cod go?
900 m
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